Fated Alternate Ending – 22

Home

"I need him back." Ibiki asked from the doorway of the med tent.

Sakura was busy stocking the shelves and staving off the morning sickness she'd been experiencing for the last two weeks since Kakashi and she had resolved to be together forever. It wasn't too bad today but it was different morning to morning. She was almost two months along. She would probably be sick for at least one more so she needed to get used to it.

"Who do you mean?" Sakura mumbled absently as she piled the bandages up on the high shelf.

"I need Lieutenant Hatake back in the field immediately. When are you going to clear him? I just saw him at the mess tent and he looks good. We've got a major offensive coming." Ibiki wandered a few feet into the room and sat down heavily on one of the stools.

Sakura paused what she was doing and placed both hands on the counter. "He died. You do know that, right? We found him dead in the forest. He was kept alive by a machine for days."

"Of course I know that, Uchiha. But he's been out of commission for over three weeks. I need him back in the field and you need to make that happen."

Sakura spun on Ibiki and wandered over to stand in front of him, her arms crossed over her middle. Very quietly, very meaningfully, she said, "I will never clear him. Never. Get yourself another Lieutenant from the Hokage. He's done."

"You can't do that, Sakura. He's got one more week here before he's released. I need him back on the roster A.S.A.P. for what's coming." Ibiki didn't appear mad, but he was taking that deeper tone with her that said he meant business.

"No. I've allowed him to help with planning at the Shed, but he's not leaving this camp until he goes home."

"Uchiha…"

Sakura sighed. "Ibiki… This is probably as good a time as any to tell you that I'm leaving too. I'm done here. I've mended your men, field trained your medics, and prepared your interrogations for almost four years. I've been loyal and hard-working and done everything you've expected of me – even in those times it was distasteful."

Ibiki jerked his chin. Apparently the news wasn't unexpected. "I'm sorry to hear that but I guessed that it was coming soon."

Sakura shrugged. "Well I'm seven weeks pregnant so this is not the place for me anymore."

Ibiki's head tipped back and his normally small eyes grew wide. "Ah, I see." That news was a shock.

"Yes, you see," she huffed. "And because I have done all this for you, you will release Kakashi from his commission right here, right now. Consider him a civilian for the next week until his rotation is done."

They stared at each other and Sakura could see he was measuring how far he could push her.

"One mission. Very low rank out to the border and back – just to get his men situated. I asked him to stay on another rotation and he refused so I already have a Lieutenant coming. I just need him to finish off his work. I can order him to do that, you know. He won't refuse. That's who he is."

Sakura sighed. "Yes, you could, and then I could bring you up on charges that you ignored my direct medical ruling. We both know which rank prevails in that situation. The Hokage is my Shishou. The next Hokage is my good friend. I don't like threatening you, Ibiki, but, well, there it is."

By his sudden shift from calmness to anger, Sakura knew she'd hit the right buttons.

"You're being unreasonable."

"If I had been just five minutes later to find Kakashi that morning, my child would have had to grow up without a father. And as I recall, you refused to send us backup to help so I think you owe me. You asking me to send him out for one more chance at death is absolutely unfathomable. I'm sorry. You need to face the fact that I've won this time. He will not be released medically and you will have to make due."

Ibiki stood up and stomped off to the door. He was pissed but she had no care for that. In a week, she would say goodbye to all the hardship and death she'd seen for the last few years to trade it in for a happier life than she had ever expected to have in Konoha

"I won't miss your stubborn streak and your lack of respect," he growled.

Sakura smiled sweetly at him. "Yeah, but you'll miss everything else."

After a brief pause, Ibiki huffed a laugh as he tipped his head back. "Fine. He's released. Get Yumi ready to take over and you can leave whenever you want. Good luck with your family."

"Thanks," she said softly, suddenly delighted in the idea that she would have her own family soon.

Their last week at the border flew by and Kakashi had actually enjoyed packing up his belongings, including the picture of them in Yasuragi that Sakura had placed on his small table. He wouldn't miss his hard cot or the mess tent food or the days of running between camps at the edge of the Fire Country. He would be forty in a few short years. It was time to give up missions, and almost dying out there was as good a wake-up call as any.

He was going to be a father. It was time to enjoy that responsibility.

Genma looked like a kicked puppy for the last two hours as he walked Sakura and Kakashi to the train. They stood on the platform together watching the gathering crowd silently because saying goodbye to a friend was always hard. Kakashi would never forget that Genma had been integral to saving them both that day. The debt was not possibly repaid.

"Why don't you come too, Genma? You've been at the border as long as I have," Sakura said gently, wrapping her arm around his and putting her head on his shoulder.

Genma took a deep breath, looking solemn. "Sakura, I'll never be able to steal you from Kakashi now with you being knocked up and all. It just seems like I'd be punishing myself if I came."

"Shut up," she laughed, smacking his shoulder. "I'm so going to miss you. Thank you for all you've done for us. Come home soon, okay?"

"I'll think about it. I've got some things to straighten out here for myself first and then I might just get on this train too." He grinned and slid his arm around Sakura. "Just remember, if it's a boy, name him Genma."

Sakura scoffed. "It is a boy, and no."

Kakashi was grinning under his mask, watching their exchange. He believed if it weren't for Genma's sense of humour and how he'd adopted Kakashi the minute he'd seen him that day in the Hokage's office a year ago, he might not have made it.

The train whistle blared in the near distance and Sakura turned to Genma, took his face in her hands and pressed her lips to his. When she let him go, he looked embarrassed. "That's for saving us. Come home soon." And then she wandered to the edge of the platform to let Kakashi say his goodbyes.

"Well, I'd like to say it's been fun but it's been shit, really," Kakashi said casually. "I'll miss you too, Genma. You saved me so many times in this last year."

"Happy to oblige," Genma said evenly, putting his hand out for Kakashi, who took it firmly. It was a harder goodbye than either man had anticipated.

"Say goodbye to Shan," Kakashi teased as he turned away.

Genma slid a senbon between his lips. "I definitely will. Good luck with your new family, my friend."

The train ride was exactly what they expected but Sakura slept most of the way. She'd been sick twice from the swaying of the locomotive and was exhausted from the week of getting the other medics ready to deal without her.

But the feeling of being on that train bound for the life of a year ago felt freeing to Kakashi. He'd come to the border with death on his mind and was returning with the expectation of a future for once. How eager he was to see his own apartment and Naruto and the tall Konoha gates.

He stroked Sakura's hair as she lay on the seat beside him, her head on his thigh. It had been a month since he nearly died – he did die, he needed to keep reminding himself – and his body was better, stronger, but the scars would remain.

He looked down at her lithe, still body, only shifting with each silent breath. She wasn't even showing yet. In the weeks since she'd told him of their child, he found the anticipation of being a father had actually become a focal point in his day to day thoughts. She'd started talking about names already, assuring him that it would not be Genma.

No matter what his given name, the tiny child would be a Hatake. Kakashi envisioned a small boy with green eyes and silver hair. Pride and expectation swelled in his chest.

The clack of the train wheels continued steadily and Kakashi felt drowsy and warm. He closed his own eyes and for the first time in a year, felt completely comfortable to just let go.

Naruto stood on the platform as the train pulled into the station. Swaying from side to side anxiously, while he ran his hand through his golden hair. His gaze swung back and forth over all the heads of the passengers until he finally caught sight of Kakashi's crazy hair moving above the rest of the crowd. He laughed when he saw it. But the sight of pink beside him made his breath hitch a little.

He was overjoyed to finally see her. He'd waited so long for her return.

As soon as she saw him, she ran and clung to him as tightly as possible.

"I've missed you so much," she whispered as she sobbed on his shoulder.

He held her for a long time. Most of the crowd was gone before they managed to get enough composure to let go. Kakashi just watched them with a pleasant smile beneath his mask. Seeing them together filled him with warm nostalgia.

The two-hour walk didn't seem too long as Naruto talked most of the way. His new daughter – his pride and joy - was half the topic of discussion. The other half was filled with animated tales of the budding young ninja, Uzumaki Sasuke.

Sakura couldn't stop smiling.

As they passed through the gates of Konoha, She reached out and touched the wooden door lovingly. Again she cried, filled with loss and emotion and all the memories that she had there. This time Kakashi held her and she laughed with embarrassment through her tears.

It wasn't until she stood in the large foyer of the Uchiha household that everything seemed to become real to her. Her sandals squeaked on the shining wooden floor, and even her light steps echoed in the expansive hallway. It smelled of bleach, pine, and a hint of all the Uchihas who used to be there. Even now, four years later, it still smelled of them.

Kakashi and Naruto stood a little behind her, both staring at the sunlight drenched floor and the extensive winding stairs made of oak. They felt small and insignificant in such a place. It was too much like a museum to imagine living in it.

"I don't think I can stay here," she whispered as her wide eyes took in her former home. "It's so empty. It never really felt like it was mine, you know. It doesn't feel like home." She shook her head. In that moment, she understood that she had left the Uchiha part of her behind so many years ago and all she carried now was the name of her deceased husband. There was no duty to them, no obligation to the ghost that haunted her memory.

She turned to Kakashi. "We never really talked about this…"

He shrugged. "We can stay at my apartment for now, but we should get a bigger one before we get married."

Naruto choked on the air as his pointing finger swung between them. "Married?"

Sakura turned a light shade of pink as she pressed a hand to her hot cheek. "Didn't I mention it in my letters?"

Wide-eyed, mouth agape – thought with a hint of a smile - Naruto shook his head.

Kakashi clapped a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "Well, there's no hurry but we should find something at least before the baby comes."

Naruto's mouth snapped closed and for the first time in her entire life, Sakura believed the man was speechless. It sent her into a fit of joyful laughter.

Epilogue

"Papa, come on. Hurry up. You promised."

"Just a second, Ichiro. Keep it down. Mama's still sleeping. I'll be right there," Kakashi whispered to the exuberant three year old bouncing within his open bedroom doorway. Kakashi slipped his shirt on and reached for his headband on the end table.

"It's okay. I'm awake," Sakura whispered to the darkened room even though it was eight in the morning. The blinds were pulled low to allow her a much needed lie-in as sleep had not been kind to her lately.

"Sorry," Kakashi said softly as he laid down on the bed next to her and pressed a kiss to the corner of her mouth. "How are you feeling?" He brushed the long pink hair away from her face tenderly.

"I'm okay. Just sleepy. Back aches a bit more than normal."

"Well, I'd be happy to rub it for you later when I get back."

Sakura rolled her eyes and laughed. "I'm too pregnant for that right now."

Kakashi gave her a mildly defeated look. "Then I'll just rub it for you later when I get back."

Suddenly another presence was on the bed as well, the light from the open doorway hitting the small boy's silver hair as he crawled up between them.

"Come here, Ichiro," Sakura said gently, pulling their son into her arms between them.

"Ugh, mama, don't," he mumbled and wriggled as she kissed his cheek repeatedly.

"Easy, kiddo. Mama had a rough night."

"Is it because of my sister?" Ichiro asked Kakashi, cranking his head around from the tight hug in which his mother had clamped him. He turned back to Sakura and put his small fingers on her face. "Your belly is really big."

"It is! And she's kicking. Here," she laughed, taking Ichiro's small hand from her cheek and placing it on her stomach. Ichiro's dark eyes, so much like his father's, shot open and his mouth became a perfect O as the tiny baby inside pushed against his warm hand. "She'll be here soon," Sakura said with a smile, glancing at her husband over their son's neatly brushed silver hair. Kakashi returned her happiness with his own gentle smile.

"Today?" Ichiro asked.

"In a week or so," Sakura assured and then lifted Ichiro's fingers to her lips and kissed them. "You'd better get going, sweetheart. Uncle Genma will sulk if you two are late."

Kakashi laughed. "Yes, that's never pretty. We'd better go." He leaned over their son and kissed Sakura again, breathing out a quick, "I love you," before he grabbed Ichiro around the waist and hauled him off the bed to riotous giggles. He slung the boy over his shoulder and waved to his wife as he headed to the usual Sunday meeting.

Genma was sweating a little in the warm Konoha sun as he tugged off his shirt and sighed lazily. He relaxed next to Kakashi as they sat a little ways from the memorial in the grass at their usual Sunday morning gathering. Kakashi was casually sitting cross-legged with his old book in the grass next to him watching the small spectacle beyond.

"That kid is tough," Genma huffed out with a laugh as they both watched Ichiro sparring lightly with Uzumaki Sasuke while Naruto looked on. "Naruto's kid is like six or seven and Ichiro can keep up with him. He's got your speed and Sakura's strength."

"Hm," Kakashi grunted, tilting his head while watching the boys finally fall into a playful wrestling match with Naruto. "Thank goodness Naruto's got the energy for those two. They'd have killed me by now."

"Well he is Hokage. Should be able to handle some exuberant boys. I had to bow out. They're getting too tough for an old man like me. Actually, I can't stay long. Shan wants us at her mother's for lunch today. Marriage can be such a chore. Hey, how's my girlfriend?"

Kakashi lifted his chin and pointed at the trio of ninja wrestling in the grass. "Sakura's due in a week but that little bugger over there came a week early so I don't want to leave her alone too long. She had a bad back last night. It's similar to when Ichiro was born. I think today might be the day."

"Did you see that, papa?" Ichiro shouted happily as he darted over and plunked down on Kakashi's crossed legs to lean back against his chest. "Sasuke and I whipped Uncle Naruto. He says he can't get up."

Everyone's eyes turned to the Hokage lying in the grass, immobile. Sasuke jumped on him suddenly and he lurched up and grabbed him, tickling and laughing.

"Looks like just half a whip," Genma chuckled.

"Papa?" Ichiro said quietly, pushing Kakashi's hand away from his dad's usual attempt to muss up his neat silver hair. "Does my little sister have a name yet?"

Kakashi kissed the top of Ichiro's head. "Your mother wants to name her Etsuko, I think."

"Why does mama get to name her?"

Kakashi smiled. "Because I got to name you."

"Oh." Ichiro tilted his head all the way back to look up at his father, reaching up to touch his cheeks like he had done to Sakura that morning. "I want to name her Haruko. I hope she has mama's pink hair. It's so pretty. All girls should have pink hair. Mama looks like spring. I want Haruko to have green eyes too."

"Haruko, hm? What if she has silver hair and gray eyes like yours?"

Ichiro scrunched his nose. "I guess it will be okay. But pink is nicest."

Kakashi laughed softly. In this tiny body sitting on his legs was the potential to mold chakra perfectly, to perform jutsu with ease and to mend almost any injury. He would be fast, intelligent and deadly if he managed to get the good side of their genes. He'd be loyal and protective and strong enough to knock down a building. And there he sat talking about girl's hair. The happy, loving life they had given his son was all he could ever have asked for as a man, as a father. This boy would never have to go through what he did.

"I like the name Haruko. We'll tell your mother about it when we get home, but it's her choice."

"Okay. But if she picks Etsuko, then I get to name the next one," Ichiro mumbled as he picked at the grass in front of them.

Kakashi looked sideways at Genma and they shared an amused grin. As stealthily as he could, Kakashi ruffled Ichiro's hair. "Okay, buddy. Five more minutes and then we need to get home."

"Okay," Ichiro responded, smoothing his hair back down again before he jumped up and ran at Naruto and Sasuke still wrestling in the grass. They were laughing and giggling and rolling together like maniacs. Sunday mornings were just too fun.

"Hard to believe it's been four years since Sakura got pregnant with that little dude," Genma observed calmly, still watching the happy melee. "Sometimes I think about what would have happened if we were just a few minutes later to find you that time. It makes me feel that fear again."

Kakashi dipped his chin in concurrence. "Sometimes I have nightmares about it. I dream of Sakura having to raise him without me. I would never have known that I had this amazing son. I would never have held him or kissed him or watched him grow into this fantastic kid. And a daughter now too… I've had a happy life with Sakura. I wouldn't have had any of it if you hadn't come back for me."

"It was her that made it happen, Kakashi." Genma pulled off his headband and set it on the grass. Then he rubbed his hand roughly over his forehead. "I would have taken care of her for you. You know that. And I would have been there for your son too." Then Genma sighed wistfully, making Kakashi look sideways at him. "And then, Kakashi, when Sakura was happier and getting along without you, I would have gently guided her into the beautiful thing that is physical love with another man. If that man happened to be me…"

Kakashi scowled. "Eh, Genma, sometimes I can't tell if you're joking."

"Ah, perhaps you'll never know."

"Stop talking about my wife like that."

Genma laid back in the grass and snorted to himself.

"Hatake-san?" a voice abruptly called out from behind the men. When they turned to look behind them, Iruka was jogging up.

"What's up?" Genma asked, looking at the panting man who stopped and put his hands on his knees to catch his breath.

"Your wife has gone to the hospital," Iruka huffed. "She sent me to find you and said to hurry your ass up."

Kakashi's eyebrows rose.

He waved an apology. "She said it. Not me."

"What's the matter?" Naruto asked as he approached with the boys in tow, seeing Iruka there.

Kakashi got rapidly to his feet. "Naruto, can you take Ichiro for a while. Sakura's in labour."

With a wide grin, Naruto nodded. "Of course!"

Sakura lay on her side, sleepy and comfortable. Her labour hadn't been as long as when she'd had Ichiro, but it was just as painful. Five hours wasn't bad, she supposed, and her body had a natural healing ability that probably dampened the agony. Already just two hours later, she felt almost normal but just a little sleepy. Nevertheless, it was over and her beautiful daughter had finally arrived. She curled against the pillow in the hospital bed and stared at her husband who was holding their new baby in the chair beside the bed. Kakashi looked at the little child with such love that it gave Sakura butterflies.

She yawned softly and Kakashi glanced up from the bundle wrapped in a green blanket.

"She's so perfect," Kakashi breathed out, smiling.

"I see she already has you wrapped around her little finger," she laughed softly.

Kakashi stroked the baby's cheek with his finger. "Just like her mother."

A gentle knock came at the hospital room door and Kakashi called for the visitor to come in. Naruto poked his head inside and glanced around at the three occupants of the room. "He is too excited to meet his sister, Sakura. I thought he might bust the door down."

Ichiro popped his head in as well. "I wouldn't break the door," he huffed.

"Get in here, little man," Sakura said sweetly. "She's been waiting to meet her big brother too."

Happily Ichiro slipped into the room as Naruto nodded his goodbye. The small boy wandered over to Kakashi and leaned against his side to gaze down at the little child. "Oh, mama. She has pink hair," he said as his fingers lightly skimmed over the downy pastel hair on the baby's head. He abruptly darted over to the bed and laid his head down on Sakura's leg, hugging her as he started to cry a little. "You made her so pretty. I wanted her to have pink hair."

Sakura looked at Kakashi as she stroked Ichiro's hair, smiling at him in just the way he was smiling back.

"Come up here, sweetheart," she whispered, encouraging her son to climb on the bed. At the same time, Kakashi got up and brought his baby daughter to the side of the bed as Ichiro snuggled in against his mother.

"Put your arms out, sit straight and you can hold her." Kakashi directed tenderly.

Ichiro hurriedly did as commanded and put his arms out as Kakashi lowered the sleeping baby to Ichiro's lap. Sakura put her arms around them both to help support her. "Mind her head. She's very delicate right now."

Ichiro stared down at his sister, smiling as tears rolled to his chin.

Kakashi sat down and touched the little girl's hair. "This is Haruko. She has your eyes, Ichiro."

Ichiro's mouth dropped open in elated surprise as he watched the girl's eyes finally open to look up at him. He laughed softly, happily, as he continued to stare at the little child he'd been anticipating for months. "She has our eyes, Papa."

So taken with the moment, Kakashi looked up at Sakura who was smiling through her own tears. He reached up and gently stroked one from her cheek. "Thank you for giving me this, Sakura."

She wrapped her hand around his and held it to her cheek as she closed her eyes and whispered, "Thank you for loving me."