Been a bit. I'm a procrastinator. As I have always said I do have intentions of finishing all of my stories, no matter how long it takes me! Hope you enjoy and I'd love to hear what you think! (the little comments I get help motivate me to word out my stories (as they are all much much further along in my mind haha *insert swear drop emoji*))


The silence is all that speaks. The sizzle of the skillet the only ambiance available.

The Princess must have gotten up early with the ruckus of their guests. She's wearing the nightgown he'd gotten her, his favorite, her socks muffling her smalls steps. She'd taken them all by surprise. Reasons varying. "Just in time for breakfast!"

No one else moves though Rin now watches Kakashi as he comfortably flips two small pancakes onto a plate and pours the last of the milk into an old glass cup with a chip cut into the bottom. He should pick up new tableware next time he goes out. Their princess stays put, lifted slightly up to her toes, hands gently clasped at her chest, concerned and confused eyes roaming between intruders. He wants them gone.

Kakashi hums a cheery tune while heating up some peanut butter for drizzling.

"Kakashi, I wasn't aware you had company spending the night." That got Rin's attention. She'd give herself whiplash looking around like that.

"Hmm? What's that? You don't remember stitching her up? Ah! Darlin' this is our doctor friend I told you about, Tsunade."

"Oh, thank you.." The princess had finally entered the room and had come with an outstretched hand. An awkward exchange. Fitting given how the morning was going. "It's nice to meet you, thank you for helping me."

"This is not the same girl that was here before. Are you two fucks trying to play me for a fool? As if I wouldn't have remembered..," there's a labored moment where all Tsunade does is scan her up and down. Had the good doctor been a man there would have been words being exchanged in this moment, and perhaps fists. "this... As though I wouldn't have noticed bright pink hair!" Her hand aiming towards the petaled hair in question as if offended. All of the attention has her retreating back to safety, frills rushing against pale thighs, she tucks behind Kakashi who's relaxed form is leaned up against the meat freezer. Unbothered.

"That is the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."

He doesn't hit Shikamaru. He wants to but he honestly doesn't know if the man is aware he's spoken. Rin knows. She really is the most beautiful woman any of them had ever seen.

"Alright, explain. Say this is the same girl, why is she here." It's not a question but a demand. "That storm was well over a month ago and from what I remember you were taking her back into town, or where ever she belongs. Which isn't here."

"Enough."

Suddenly he's standing and she's retreating into his back, tightly fisting the fabric from his sweatshirt, chest and cheek pressed into him. Warmth between his shoulder blades. Heaven. Kakashi's tone holding the authority of an eye in the storm, frightening her. Frightening them all. He regrets adding the layer after letting the enemy in. For this moment he's glad they came all the same.

"This is my house and you will not tell me who can and can't be here. She is my guest and she is welcome here for however long she wants. Is that understood."

She's stopped trembling.

"I understand. Shall we eat?"

The table setup is uncomfortable. The table was made from an old oak bar top they'd found. It was left behind with a broken leg in one of the better buildings on the property. Back when Kakashi had purchased the land. They'd shortened two of the legs and removed the others. Attaching one side to the wall made it so the table could collapse into itself and save space. They'd not had company in mind all those years ago. That was back when they'd first relocated here and were trying to do better. It was small.

Kakashi had gotten the table pulled out first and sat down on the side of the wall. Princess quickly to his right. Shikamaru had been right by the table and had taken the first seat, across from Kakashi making Rin take place across from his Princess. Tsunade pushed her way in between Shikamaru and Rin, demanding to see both him and Kakashi as they had been who she'd come to see.. Apparently the other two had chosen to tag along of their own accord. Separately mind you. Both still on good terms with the woman. A bitter pill indeed. This left him at the head of the table facing both the girls.

"Have we met before?"

"Enough Shikamaru." He was toeing the line, Genma had no problem putting him out.

"No, no. I swear I've seen you before." For a man with an identical memory, as well as some dozen other genius attributes, he genuinely seemed confused, as though he might truly have known her. Have met her in some way. Terror. What if he triggered something. What if he remembered. What if she did? What if she left? How could anyone forget seeing the Princess? He couldn't. For the first time a revelation crossed his mind, somewhere, someone was missing her. But if she left it would be him. Could he lose her? Could he have her? What did that leave him?

"Sorry, remind me of your name?"

And for a third time the nothing was something. She was no one while also being his everything.

"I", her whisper, her fear, her nerves on how and what to say, "I can't remember."

He poured the melted nut butter over her dessert. Rin watched.

"We will have to call her something. What do you call her?"

"You can call her Jane, for Jane Doe." The princess doesn't like that one bit but he's not willing to let them have any more of her then they've already experienced. Not her calling card, not her. The two end up going back and forth on it before Kakashi cuts in with Doe. She doesn't seem pleased but settles with it regardless.

They spend the next hour or so observing and experiencing their peers new life. At one point Shikamaru separates off with Kakashi to discuss some important business he's been focused on. Tsunade leaves whatever non-sense delusions she's concocting of a new unit unspoken, in lieu of the days events. No doubt scheming and plotting her pitch for the next visit he knows she'll now make.

They depart soon after. Whatever had made Rin join the excursion she keeps to herself.

When he took his sweatshirt off that night he sees water stains in the shape of droplets on the back. Right between his shoulder blades.