Twenty-Five: Epilogue

The pavilion smelled like an extravagant flower garden. Ino had spared no expense on the wedding for Naruto and Hinata. Though, she also had Sakura breathing down her neck making sure it was absolutely perfect.

Sakura set the last vase on the reception table and then eyed her handiwork.

"Looks good!" Sai said, straightening a vase at a table a few feet away.

Ino's delicate throat cleared behind her. Sakura whirled around with a guilty expression. "You know I had this covered," Ino scolded. She glared at Sai. "And you shouldn't encourage her! She turned back to Sakura. "Hurry up and get dressed! The pre-ceremony pictures will be starting with Hinata and her bridesmaids. Naruto and his guys just finished."

"All right, all right," Sakura agreed.

Ino looped her arm through hers and marched her to the rooms secured for the bridal party. "You know, if you had given me even a couple of days notice, I would have arranged floral arrangements just as good as this one for you."

"I know you would have, but there were extenuating circumstances," Sakura reminded her. She pressed her hand against her flat belly.

"Where are your little ones anyway?" Ino asked. Tenten stood guard in front of the bridal party changing rooms. She stepped aside to allow the two to enter.

"With my parents," Sakura said. "They're trying to coach them about their duties are ring bearer and flower girl again."

"I still can't believe you had twins," Ino said.

"An unforeseen complication in the plans of a mad goddess," Sakura admitted. She spotted Hinata standing before a full mirror as Hanabi helped to adjust her veil. "Hinata, you're the most beautiful bride!"

A scarlet blush colored Hinata's pale cheeks. "Thank you, Sakura," she said with a shy smile. She ran her hands over the pearls embedded to the front of her white dress. "I'm so nervous and I don't know why!"

"Because you're finally going to marry the man you've been in love with since you were five," Hanabi said with a smirk. She turned to Sakura and frowned. "Why aren't you dressed? We have five minutes before our pictures!"

"Because she's a perfectionist," Ino said. She shoved Sakura towards the back of the room where her dress was still hanging. "At least your hair and makeup are already done."

"It would have been smarter to do your hair after your dress was on," Hanabi answered. "Oh let me help you, so that you don't ruin your hair."

Ino and Hanabi helped Sakura put on her bridesmaid dress and then stepped back to survey their work. "You'll do," Ino said with a grin. "Now, go take your pictures and let's get this show on the road!"

Hinata reached for Sakura and Hanabi's hands and let out a shaky breath. "I'm really doing this!"

"Yes, you're really doing this!" Hanabi said with a laugh.

"Do you think he'll be here?" Hinata asked, turning her opaque lavender eyes on Sakura.

"I don't know," Sakura said, thinking about her conversation with Sasuke shortly before her own wedding a couple of years before. "I hope so."

"I hope so too," Hinata said, squeezing Sakura's hand.

There was another knock on the door. "All right ladies, that's the photographer. It's picture time!" Ino handed the three women their bouquets.

OoO

Naruto was balanced on the balls of his feet and staring at the back of the aisle in anticipation. Within minutes, he'd be married to Hinata.

"You're doing great," Iruka whispered. "Just try to keep cool."

Naruto grinned and turned to his best man. "I can't pretend to keep cool when I'm all fired up," he said.

"Just try not to make a spectacle of yourself," Neji whispered, standing next to Iruka.

"Same goes for you," Naruto said back.

"I'm just hoping my children don't act wild," Neji said under his breath.

The music changed and the doors to the back opened. Sakura and Neji's twins stepped through the doors. Hizashi, named for his grandfather, carried the rings. Chiyo, named for the old woman that saved Sakura's life long ago, held a basket full of flower pedals. They waltzed up the aisle — Chiyo tossing flower pedals on the ground in their wake while Hizashi proudly carried the rings on a pillow.

Neji took the rings and then led his children to their grandparents near the front. Kizashi and Mebuki settled back with them on the second row.

Sakura was the next to walk down the aisle and then Hanabi. Sakura winked at Neji and flashed Naruto a thumbs up before she took her place.

And then Hinata walked down the aisle on her father's arm.

The actual ceremony was a blur for Naruto. He just remembered how beautiful Hinata looked and how lucky he was that she was agreeing to be his wife. It wasn't until he pulled back from kissing her, having dipped her dramatically to the amusement of their guests, that he saw him in the back.

The guests clapped and cheered loudly in celebration. Kiba's whistle and Konohamaru's shouts ringing loudest of all.

Amidst the jubilant noise, Naruto heard the faint whisper of his best friend.

"Well done, Idiot," Sasuke said, nodding his head once and then walking out.

Naruto grinned. It really was the most perfect day!

OoO

Sakura stabilized her last patient of a long shift at the hospital. All she wanted was to get home, put her feet up, and read a good book nuzzled against her husband while their kids played with their cousins.

She made her way towards the Hokage's office. The assistant opened the door upon seeing her. Naruto looked up from behind a mountain of paperwork. "Sakura-chan! Have you come to save me from this?" He gestured towards the documents.

"I've come to escort you home, Hokage," Sakura said with a grin. "It's Friday and you know what that means."

"Neji's making dinner?" Naruto asked, rising from his chair. He grabbed his long white coat and slung it over his shoulders. "What are we waiting for?"

Sakura laughed. "Exactly my thoughts!"

They set off for the Hyuga compound. She and Naruto usually walked to work together in the mornings and back home. It wouldn't last for long, as she'd only recently discovered that she was pregnant again. Soon, she would minimize her hours and shift more of the duties back to the Co-Director of the hospital, Shizune.

She and Neji sold their condo a few years ago and lived full time at the Hyuga compound. Naruto and Hinata were in the house next door and their children were very close playmates.

"Any clue what Neji's making for dinner?" Naruto asked. He nodded at several salutes from shinobi. He groaned. "How did Kakashi do this without going crazy?"

"He made us do all the hard work," Sakura said with a laugh. "You just need to delegate a little more." She elbowed Naruto playfully in the side as they walked amiably down the sidewalk. "Dump more work on Shikamaru's desk."

"Have Temari take her anger out on me when he's home late?" Naruto asked with his bright blue eyes wide in mock fear. "She's almost as terrifying as Hinata when she's angry!"

"Uh huh, angry Hinata," Sakura said skeptically.

"She runs the Hyuga clan with an iron fist," Naruto reminded her.

"True. I wouldn't want to cross her or Neji," Sakura said. She thought back upon the day when Neji and Hinata had taken their position as Co-Heads of the clan. The decision had been met with enthusiasm by the entire clan — Head and Branch family. Neji had tried to revoke the Caged Bird Seal, but was outvoted by the clan. The other members of the clan considered the tattoo an honor. It was decided that it was too great a risk that enemies might steal the Byakugan Kekkei Genkai without it.

The sounds of children playing drifted out of Sakura and Neji's house. Sakura and Naruto walked through the front door. Neji was in the kitchen cooking dinner, HInata sat at the kitchen table knitting — her belly heavy in pregnancy, and Hanabi was on the living room floor playing with the twins and Naruto's son Boruto and daughter Himawari.

The four little ones looked up like a group of meerkats and then rushed towards Sakura and Naruto at the door and tackled them around the waist. Both of Hinata and Naruto's children had his bright blue eyes. Neji and Sakura's children had the opaque eyes of the Hyuga clan. Hizashi was the spitting image of his father with lavender opaque eyes while Chiyo had jade opaque eyes. Neither of their children had pink hair — though Neji was hopeful that if they had another girl she might favor her mother. Sakura just hoped that if they had another son he didn't have pink hair. Her father was a confident man, but no boy should have to grow up with pink hair!

"Welcome home," Hinata said, setting aside her knitting materials. She started to stand from the kitchen table, but Naruto scooped his kids up in his arms and hurried to her side for a big family hug.

Sakura looked up and met Neji's gaze. He smiled at her softly and continued stirring something on the stove. Sakura held Hizashi and Chiyo's hands and led them back towards their Aunt Hanabi.

"There's a package for you," Hanabi said. "It was delivered this afternoon." She gestured towards the end table next to the couch.

Sakura picked up the package wrapped in paper with precise handwriting with her name and address. She recognized the writing — it was from Sasuke. She sat on the couch and ripped open the paper, Hizashi and Chiyo returned to her side and sat next to her.

"Is it from Sasuke?" Hanabi asked, wringing her hands anxiously.

"Yes," Sakura said. She opened the box and sorted through the various gifts within. For years now, Sasuke had regularly sent packages for and Naruto's children. In this particular care package, there was a picture of the waterfalls he'd been visiting in Mist. There was also a note on the back of the picture saying that he planned to be back home in time for Hinata and Naruto's third child's birth. Also, besides the gifts for the children, he'd included a trio of beautiful silk dresses — one for her, Hinata, and Hanabi.

"This one is for you," Sakura said, holding out the silver and lavender dress for Hanabi.

"For me?" Hanabi asked in surprise.

Sakura nodded. "He'll be home in a few months." She looked across the room and met Neji's gaze.

Neji smiled softly. "Good, we need to discuss some clan business when he gets here."

Naruto laughed. "That's probably why he's avoiding you!" He looked from Neji to Hinata. "The Heads of the Hyuga clan are a scary bunch!"

"Go play with your Aunt Hanabi. I need to help your father," Sakura said, kissing her children on their foreheads.

"I have dinner under control," Neji said. "Why don't you and the Hokage set the table?"

"Yeah, okay," Naruto said. "I suppose I can do that. I mean, I only spent the whole day keeping the village on track and Sakura was only spending the whole day saving countless lives at the hospital." He grinned when Hinata hit him playfully on the shoulder.

"Cry me a river," Neji mocked. "How many ANBU missions have I led for you?"

"I don't know," Naruto teased. "How many did Sakura let you go on?"

"Uncle Neji got owned!" Boruto joked.

"Be polite," Hinata scolded.

Sakura and Naruto worked together to set the table while bantering back and forth. There was a knock at the door. Neji set aside his mixing spoon and shut off the stove top. "Sakura if you and Hinata will serve the food — I'll get the door. Don't let Naruto touch it. He'll probably trip over his own feet and spill it everywhere."

Naruto huffed.

Neji answered the door to find Sakura's parents and Hinata's parents stood on the porch. He let them in. "Welcome," he greeted.

"We're not too late are we?" Tomoe asked nervously.

"You're right on time," Neji assured them.

"There's my grandkids!" Kizashi said crouching and holding his arms out. The twins rushed past their aunt Hanabi and tackled their pink-haired grandfather.

Shortly afterwards, the large family settled around the huge dinner table.

"You know, Neji, there are plenty of excellent chefs in the clan that could cook and serve your meals," Hiashi pointed out. He swirled his noodles with his chopsticks.

"They don't serve much food when we're off on missions," Neji countered. He bit into his dinner and closed his eyes in enjoyment. "Besides, they tend to use too many spices."

"I think it tastes wonderful!" Mebuki complimented.

Neji laughed. "You would! It is your recipe!" He took Sakura's hand under the table and squeezed it tight.

Conversation filled their home as everyone began talking about their days.

"I have some more news for you," Sakura whispered into Neji's ear.

"What's that?" Neji asked. He caressed her knuckles with his thumb idly.

"We're going to have another baby," she said.

A grin spread across Neji's lips. "Does this mean you'll be spending more time at home?"

Sakura leaned her cheek against Neji's shoulder. Her gaze roved over her family and she was content. "There is a consequences to every action."

Neji nodded. "And what do you think of those consequences?"

"I think I can live with them," Sakura said smiling. She looked up into Neji's eyes and saw the love reflected within.

He smiled back. "I can live with them too," he said leaning down a kissing her in front of everyone.

"Moooom! Daaaad! There are people!" Hizashi groaned.

Sakura and Neji laughed. He released her hand and wrapped his arm around her shoulders and hugged her against him. "Get used to it, son!" Neji looked around the table and grinned broadly. "We're expecting another baby," he announced. "And that means mom will be home quite a bit more often."

"That's wonderful!" Hinata exclaimed. Excited murmurs rose around the dinner table. There was another knock at the door. Hinata and Naruto exchanged looks. "Were you expecting anyone else?"

"No, but I'll go see who it is," Naruto said, pushing away from the table and going to the door. He opened the door and shouted out in joy at the unexpected guest. "It's about time you show up, jerk!"

Sasuke sniffed the air. "Just in time for dinner?"

"Yeah, don't worry, Neji cooked. So it's pretty good," Naruto assured him.

"Hey! I can hear you!" Sakura called out from the dining room.

"Your cooking is great, Sakura!" Sasuke assured her with a laugh. He tossed his cloak over the chair by the front door and followed Naruto towards where everyone was eating in the back. Hanabi gathered a pillow and set another place and Sasuke sat next to her. The four children all eyed Sasuke with adoring expressions.

"It's good to have you back, Sasuke," Neji greeted.

"It's good to be back," Sasuke said. He smiled at Sakura and then turned to Hanabi. "So, did you like the dress?"

Sakura and Naruto exchanged glances. All was right in their world and with their family.

FIN