A/N: One final hurrah, this chapter matches more the tone of the first half of the story and was my original ending. Enjoy!

Bonds Through Time

Epilogue: Convergence of Timelines….

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Sakura

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It was the soft light of the morning that stirred Sakura from her slumber. She'd been allowed to leave the hospital and recover at her home — a residence that was both foreign and familiar— the Hatake Estate.

In her original timeline, she'd found the ancient time-traveling relic left behind by an alien race that wanted to consume the planet and the life that had ever lived. She'd gone back to right the wrongs of her vengeful wayward teammate. She'd intended to join forces with her team captain in the past. The team captain that she'd grown strong feelings for in both friendship and something more. The man that had a special place in her heart from their shared experience during the epic battle concluding a war that never was. A man whom summoned a massive susanoo with the dying wish of his childhood rival and saved her life more often than she could count when the boy she'd professed to love left her to die more than once.

She remembered seeing firsthand the burden placed on Kakashi time and time again. He'd been placed on a relentless schedule of solo S and A class missions after Orochimaru's invasion. He'd been given the two most traumatized children of her generation to mentor and her— a civilian obsessed with impressing a boy that barely noticed her so consumed by his family's ghosts and who harbored an unfair dislike for the boy burdened by the very beast that slaughtered his parents.

Sakura remembered the genuine affection between herself and her Team Seven members — even the extended members of Yamato and Sai. She remembered being the first person to kill an Akatsuki member — Sasori. She remembered when Sasuke finally came back, only to leave again. She remembered her mother poisoning her and her father's complicit actions. She remembered feeling so broken, that even a pair of silver bangles that moved her heart and the glimmer of love in Kakashi's dark eyes hadn't been enough to resist the temptation to try to go back and fix things.

She remembered the disorientation of traveling back to before the massacre and meeting Shisui Uchiha and a young Itachi— an annoying teenager rather than the terrifying menace he would become. Mostly, she remembered Kakashi — how he was a different type of self-sacrificing hero compared to the man she'd known for a decade. She would learn that while she'd gone back to save one person she loved from a path of pain, she'd become intimately more familiar with the pain of the person she would come to love more than anyone in the world.

"Yo," Kakashi's deep voice murmured as his weight settled on the bed beside her— his side of the bed.

Sakura braced her arms behind her and sat up to look at the man — her husband and the father of her unborn child. Her hand settled over her belly on reflex. Takashi — a miracle child created fourteen years in the past and brought through time to the present— was still six months away from making his debut into their world. "Hey," Sakura answered, a brief smile lifting the corners of her lips.

"Here," Kakashi said, handing her a white ceramic mug decorated with pale pink cherry blossoms so similar to his tattoo. It was a mug custom created just for her.

"Thanks." She took the warm mug and inhaled the strong aroma of matcha green tea with a hint of both jasmine and honey.

"It's from Itachi's private stash," Kakashi explained. "A little welcome home present if you will." He picked up his own personalized mug — dark green with the face of a pug painted into the ceramic.

Sakura had a flash of a new memory superimposing on the old. These mugs were a gift from Ino and Sai for their wedding. There was also a very elegant silver serving tray and tea set from Itachi and Izumi. She took a generous sip from the warm liquid and hummed. She knew exactly which region of Tea this blend came from— the one where Itachi found her parents when they'd left Konoha. The one where Kakashi convinced them to return to Konoha. Reflexively, her hand went back to covering her belly— a remembered fear from what her mother had done to her first child in another life.

"No one will harm you ever again," Kakashi promised quietly. "I won't allow it."

Of course he knew where her thoughts had ventured, he knew everything didn't he? There were no more secrets between them. And while she appreciated the sentiment, they both knew no one could protect someone else from all harm. Pain was simply an inevitable part of life. However, it was reassuring to know that someone loved you enough to try.

"It's still hard to let go of an old pain," Sakura murmured. She turned to look at Kakashi fully and took a few moments to study his naked face. His mask was notably absent — as it often was in the privacy of their own bedroom. He was the same, but different — those tragic dark eyes of his were still haunted by countless experiences but they also had the warmth of love. She knew she had a big hand in helping him find that unconditional love. He wasn't a perfect man, but Sakura wasn't a perfect woman. They loved each other — imperfections and all.

Kakashi nodded. He set his mug on the nightstand and then took Sakura's mug and placed it beside his. "It's easier when you have someone to love and can comfort one another." He took both her hands in his and raised her knuckles to his lips. His intense, thunderstorm grey gaze met hers.

Without taking his eyes off hers, Kakashi pressed light kisses against Sakura's hands. "It was a special kind of hell being back here without you." His thumbs traced lazy circles in the space between her thumbs and index fingers. "There were all these new memories on top of the old. And there were photos —proof of the life we have now. And yet, you were still lost in time for weeks and I could remember all the other times I'd lost you from both timelines." He took a deep breath, his muscles tensed. "It was overwhelming."

Sakura reached for him, cradling his face between her hands. She had loved this man in both timelines, in various points of history. She loved Kakashi when he was twelve, fourteen, twenty, twenty-six, thirty, thirty-four. She could continue to love him until the day she died. She'd seen him as an arrogant yet lonely adolescent prodigy, a solemn heart-broken twenty-year old Anbu captain, a severely depressed jonin forced to mentor a couple of orphans and a girl from a civilian family with no clue about ninjutsu. And she remembered the friendship that had evolved in both timelines. "Part of me can't believe we're really here together." She brushed her thumb over his bottom lip, her eyes shifting from his dark eyes to his kissable mouth.

Kakashi inhaled sharply. "Sakura," his voice was husky and strained with want. "My wife."

"Husband," Sakura whispered breathless, her heart pounding in her throat. Her mind and her heart were overwhelmed by the silver-haired man on her bed— their bed.

She trailed her hands down his body, jerking his shirt up and over his head and tossing it to the desk on the far wall. It landed on top of her laptop and one of Kakashi's novels— this one about the Gutsy Kunoichi whom looked suspiciously like Sakura.

Sakura drank in the beautiful specimen of a man hovering on top of her. Kakashi's cherry blossom tattoo was a vibrant pink and green against the pale flesh of his broad frame. His strong calloused hands were under her shirt, tracing over the contours of her belly and then up to the swell of her breasts. She gasped when he pinched her nipples between his fingers, heat flooded her core. "Kakashi," she whispered, bucking her hips against him as the weight of his erection pressed against her.

"Sakura," Kakashi answered, leaning down to suck on her ear lobe and then trail kisses down.

There was a loud knock at the front door. "Ignore it, they'll go away," Kakashi murmured, his lips returning to Sakura's neck.

The tapping on their bedroom window caused Sakura to reluctantly pull away. She almost laughed at the pout on Kakashi's lips and the desire in his stormy eyes.

It was one of Shisui's crows. Shisui Uchiha — the man that she saved and caused the change of events that led to the peaceful world they lived in. The man that became family.

"That brother of yours," Kakashi growled. He threaded his fingers in Sakura's hair and kissed her once more, a bruising pressure on her lips. "Let me see what he wants. Don't move."

Sakura thought about protesting out of pride, but all that kissing made her light-headed. Absently, she nodded. She licked her lips and smiled when Kakashi growled again, before he shifted his crotch uncomfortably. "I will be right back." Then he went to answer the door.

He couldn't have been gone for more than a minute. Sakura reached under the covers and pulled off her panties — they'd become damp during their makeup session.

Kakashi slipped back into their bedroom, his observant eyes flicked towards the discarded panties on the floor. "He brought by breakfast from that little cafe you like so much." He closed the door and stalked towards their bed.

"That was nice," Sakura murmured, not feeling hungry for pastries, but for something a little more carnal.

"Wants us to have dinner with him, his wife, Itachi, and Izumi," Kakashi continued. He joined Sakura on the bed and she laid back. His thick arms braced either side of her head and his face dipped back towards her neck, his teeth nipping at the sensitive flesh. "We should be properly reunited by then."

Sakura laid one hand over his muscular back and the other gripped his chin, pulling his lips towards her. "You're wearing too many clothes, husband."

Kakashi smiled against her mouth. "As are you, wife."

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OoO

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Kakashi

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"Take it back," Itachi rumbled shoving the Hokage hat into Kakashi's arms as soon as he entered Shisui's home. Sakura was snatched immediately into Shisui's arms and flash-stepped into the kitchen where Izumi and Lyna could be heard laughing.

"Good evening to you too," Kakashi answered with a chuckle. He set the over-sized hat on the nearby console table. "I thought being Hokage was your dream, Itachi."

"Running my clan is enough challenge." Itachi gestured towards Shisui. "I prefer you to deal with that one's brother-in-law. The Kazekage is difficult."

Sasori was quite the handful. Kakashi usually relied on Sakura to sooth that one's ruffled feathers. Shisui seemed pretty well equipped at dealing with Sasori's moods as well. It helped that Sasori's cousin Lyna was ridiculously happy with her Konoha husband. "You get along well with the new Mizukage," Kakashi pointed out.

"That's true," Itachi admitted. "You know I struggle with friendships, but Kisame seems to understand me well."

Kakashi knows that Itachi is aware that in another life he and Kisame were partners for over a decade in the Akatsuki. It's nice that they can have a friendship based on their respective roles as village leaders rather than as an international terrorist team. "Thank you for the tea this morning."

Itachi nodded. "I will always be in your debt, Kakashi. Yours and Sakura's."

Kakashi reached over and tugged Itachi's low ponytail. The younger man could have easily evaded the gesture, but he allowed it. Long gone were the days of Kakashi being a thirteen-year old Itachi's Anbu captain. Now they were the Rokudaime and Uchiha Patriarch. "There is no debt between us, Itachi. We're friends."

The table in Shisui's kitchen wasn't big — it was meant more for a party of four, rather than the six people that were crowded around it. Shisui always seemed to be one that appreciated being surrounded by loved ones. It wasn't hard to care for the brilliant, yet kind-hearted Anbu Commander.

"It has been such a challenge running the hospital without you, Sakura," Izumi explained. "Shizune and Yugao are excellent surgeons, but they don't have your patience. And forbid it all if I were to work with Lady Tsunade — she's absolutely terrifying!"

Sakura laughed. "That's rich coming from you, Izumi." Sakura smiled up at Kakashi as he sat next to her at the cramped table. "I remember when I was working with you on the ophthalmology ward. You can be rather intimidating yourself!"

It was a little strange having the six of them together without the sounds of children running around. Kakashi leaned back in his seat, his arm snug around Sakura's shoulder and drawing her to his side. Mikoto, Sasuke and Naruto had volunteered to watch all the Uchiha little ones. They were going to have a massive slumber party at Grandma Mikoto and Grandpa Taki's house.

After so many years all alone, it was still a little surreal for Kakashi to find himself as part of such a large extended family these days.

Sakura looked up at Kakashi, her jade eyes warm with affection. "Everything okay, Kakashi?"

He brushed his lips over the top of her head, his mask loose around his neck and enjoyed the sensation of her silken tresses. "Just happy to be alive."

"Let's toast to that," Shisui declared. He had a stack of cups and he filled them all with sake before passing them out to his dinner guests. He held his cup and the others did the same. "Here's to being alive and the power of friendship."

"You're so corny," Sakura murmured with a smile. Shisui grinned back at her. She raised her cup. "Here's to life and our bonds through time."

Sakura knocked her cup against Kakashi's first and then they tapped cups with the others before they all took a long drink.

The strong alcohol burned down Kakashi's throat, but he didn't mind. He was content — married to the only woman he had ever loved, a child on the way, sitting at a table with his best friends, leading the village as the Hokage, making his parents and old sensei proud beyond the grave. He'd even managed to help his childhood rival find peace and redemption.

"Does our esteemed Rokudaime have any words of wisdom he'd like to add?" Shisui asked, a playful gleam in his dark eyes.

Kakashi took another sip of his sake and said nothing.

"Unlike some people," Itachi said, "Kakashi doesn't always have something to say."

"What do you mean by that?"Shisui challenged, bracing his forearms on the table and jostling the dinner plates. "Are you saying I talk too much, Itachi?"

"I've always enjoyed your conversational skills," Sakura interjected loyally.

"Thank you, Sakura," Shisui said, flashing her an easy smile.

"She's your sister. Of course, she'll defend you," Itachi argued.

Lyna laughed. "I may be biased, but I also enjoy Shisui's mouth."

"I know you do," Shisui said, waggling his dark eyebrows playfully.

Itachi and Kakashi both groaned at the blatant innuendo.

Sakura's lips brushed the shell of Kakashi's ear and her warm breath tickled against him. "We only need to stay for about an hour. Do you think you can manage?"

Kakashi turned, so that they were cheek to cheek, his lips ghosting over her ear. "Who am I to make my beloved wife wait?" He felt Sakura's small, yet strong hand squeeze his knee under the table.

He raised his half-empty cup. "I would like to toast to friendship and love." The group chorused the salute and tapped their cups together once more.

As the conversation flowed around the table, Kakashi and Sakura stayed over several hours. While they were both eager to return to their estate and enjoy one another's company, they were both happy to spend time with their friends.

The future looked bright for not only Konoha, but for the lands of Fire, Wind, and Water. As Hokage, Kakashi was leading not only the Leaf, but the shinobi villages towards a time of commerce and peace. Talks with both Cloud and Earth were surprisingly civil. It helped that Itachi was such a smooth diplomat and that Sakura could charm even the most hardened hearts with hopes of improving their medical care— Rain was proof of that.

As he and Sakura made their way home that night, walking hand-in-hand, the stars of the summer sky twinkling down upon them, his heart was light and the future was full of potential.

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