This is it my loves, the very last of it. Thanks again to each and every one of you, words really can't express my gratitude for your support. This story lived in my head for a long, long time... and now it's finally free. Take care of yourselves loves xx Mumma

APPROXIMATELY 36 MONTHS AND 27 DAYS LATER….

Drink in hand, Kakashi took in the view from the top of Hokage tower, leaning on the railing. The setting suns orange light on his shoulders and nothing else. A tangible weight had been lifted from him on this day, a long awaited reprieve that had taken his entire life's work to get to, and he was already enjoying every second.

His comrade standing beside him now bearing that weight, and it had only been half a day but it was already obvious.

"Chin up, Naruto. It wasn't that bad…. Sort of…"

"Sensei, I missed my own inauguration…"

"It all worked out in the end though, we figured out a way, Konohamaru didn't seem to mind."

"I missed my own inauguration, because I was knocked out by a three year old…"

"Ah, well. That detail is perhaps regrettable, but no one needs to know…"

"Ugh, I guess you're right. What a start though, I finally make Hokage and I'm already an embarrassment…"

"Hey now, no more of an embarrassment than the sorry excuse standing next to you."

The statement seemed to break the tension, Naruto finally smiled for the first time since his arrival. The dark circles under his eyes likely to become a permanent feature now appeared more shadowed in this light. It was strange to see someone so youthful looking so aged in just one day.

"This whole time y'know, I just… I wished the Pervy Sage had been around to see me become Hokage. Feels like I've let him down already."

Kakashi turned, leaned on the railing but looked towards the carved mountainside. To his own sensei. That sentiment from Naruto meant more than he could possibly describe in words alone. It was as if, in that moment, he grew closer to him. Sharing this similarity in manhood, and while he was grateful for the company, he wouldn't have wished that fate on his own student, his friend. But there was something he could do about it now.

"Naruto, take it from me, he's watching you as we speak, and he is anything but disappointed in you. You've done so well, so much already. You could never let him down."

Though he spoke to Naruto he maintained eye contact with Minato's stone likeness. Wishful that his words got through to his son now, gave him the peace of mind that he deserved. And he would continue to provide him with any guidance he could for as long as he could. Just as Minato had done for him.

"Thanks sensei. That means a lot…"

"And what am I, huh? Chopped liver?"

"Iruka sensei!"

So caught up in thought Kakashi failed to notice Iruka's arrival to the terrace. Smiling that proud smile as he stood next to Naruto.

"Just look at you, who would have thunk it, huh?"

"Oh, Iruka sensei, shucks…"

"Knocked out by a three year old so I hear? Did I teach you nothing?"

In an act that was more affection than violence, Iruka rubbed a closed fist into Naruto's hair, Kakashi had to chuckle at the exchange. Downing his drink with a smile.

"C'mon Iruka, it wasn't like that...:"

"Uh huh. Well, still. I'm proud of you, Naruto. Let's face it, you can't do any worse than your predecessor."

"Good evening to you too, Iruka." Kakashi nodded to the man, Naruto's peeling laughter a little more subdued than usual, but still intoxicating all the same. The sun was now dropping further, he checked his watch just to be sure. Ten minutes to go. "And with that gentleman, I shall retire for the evening… get it… 'retire', oh nevermind. See ya later."

"Wait, you're leaving Kakashi sensei? The party is just getting started!"

"Oh, I think he's partied enough for one day…" Iruka crossed his arms and shook his head. "Don't think I saw you without a drink in your hand all day long, poor Sakura bringing them to you faster than you could drink them."

"Drinking for two are we sensei?"

Naruto's words were dripping with an unspoken secret, and Kakashi could see it on his face, he'd never had a good poker face. Kakashi raised a brow in reply, knowing it was futile to keep secret much longer. Hell, everyone was going to know soon enough…

"You know?"

"Hinata told me. Can't hide that from the Byakugan y'know. Congrats sensei, I'm happy for you two."

Iruka made a comical show of looking between the two of them.

"Wait a minute… You're telling me…"

"Sakura is pregnant, yes. Though we were waiting until after today to tell anyone."

"Hinata used to do that too, before she wanted anyone to know, order a drink and hand it straight to me before anyone got suspicious. I swear it almost killed me a few times...:"

"Well, you have no excuse for not being able to hold your liquor these days Naruto."

"Kakashi, I had no idea. Congratulations!" Iruka clapped him on the shoulder, looking genuinely as if he were holding back tears. "The bachelor finally settles down. You are making an honest woman of her…. Right?" The hand on his shoulder suddenly turned harsh.

"I'm working on it…" he mumbled looking down to his watch. 8 minutes to go.

"He's been a bachelor for so long Iruka sensei there's gotta be at least a dozen illegitimate children in this village alone…"

"Naruto!" Iruka turned and clocked the blond on the head.

Kakashi couldn't help but laugh, his heart was light, it was almost time.

"Well, I better be off, it's almost dinner time. Can't be late…"

At his words both Naruto and Iruka turned to look at him as if he were a ghost.

"Quit it sensei, you're creeping me out…"

"See ya."

Kakashi left with time to spare. Dinner was always just after 7pm, and it was always shared together. At this moment, he knew that Sakura would be just arriving to their shared home, unlocking the door. He knew that she would head straight to the bathroom after discarding her satchel and keys to their respected spots. He knew that she would be tired, being four months pregnant and on your feet all day was a diabolical combination that had started to wear her down. So he knew that while she waited for the water to fill the bath she would sit herself on the edge of the bed, and perhaps pick up the book on the nightstand.

That was the plan anyway. Kakashi smirked to himself, it was just lucky his plans usually went off without a hitch. All the experiments so far had been successful.

It had been a day, wonderful and amazing to see her friend achieve his dream, but it had been long. Sakura had been at work until the inauguration, there was still a hospital to run, then straight afterwards she had gone back just to make sure things were in order. It perhaps wasn't necessary, everything was running smoothly after all, but it was habit and hard to break. She would always be thorough in her work, even if she all she really wanted to do was vomit constantly.

It wasn't professional to be channeling chakra to the morning sickness, it was just something she was going to have to deal with and push through. Really it was a small price to pay for the excitement she still felt, the butterflies of happiness, this child was going to be born into the most loving home she could make for it. And Kakashi wouldn't let her down in that regard, he would never let her down, or their child.

But she was allowed to be tired and fed up after an especially long day.

To add to her frustrations, people had kept handing her drinks throughout the festivities, despite her insistence that she needed to get back to work afterwards. The phrase, 'if Tsunade could do it drunk, so can you', was used more times than she could count. It had taken every excuse in the book to sidle away before she could pawn whatever glass of alcohol it was onto Kakashi.

Thank goodness he could handle his liquor.

It didn't surprise her that the door was locked and the lights were off, Kakashi would never be late for dinner though, he wouldn't be too far behind her. She'd have to make a veritable feast for him to soak up the alcohol he'd consumed today, he probably wasn't in any fit state to help her either.

Sakura chuckled to herself as she hung up her coat and removed her shoes. Drunk Kakashi was at least entertaining, she may even be able to convince him to read to her or give her a massage.

Or both.

Running a tired hand through her hair, Sakura wandered slowly to the bathroom, hoping the hot water would relieve some of these aches before Kakashi got home. In a trance fuelled by exhaustion, Sakura failed to notice the subtle changes to the bedroom as she walked through to the bath, didn't see the deliberate and small touches Kakashi had made.

Later on she guessed that was his intention, all part of the plan, but for now she remained in a daze. She ran the water in the bath, deliberately hotter than usual, turning to remove her shirt. Her feet were aching, she sat herself on the edge of the bed while she waited for the bath to fill.

Finally she noticed.

A single rose lay on her pillow, she picked it up curiously. It wasn't unlike Kakashi to leave something sweet and thoughtful for her to find. She smiled, standing to place it on the dresser.

On the dresser she found a book that hadn't been there this morning, the title she recognized as the latest in a series she and Kakashi had been reading together. Her smile grew.

Behind the book was a note. Folded like a card, with an 'S' on top of it, there was no doubt that it was Kakashi's handwriting. Sakura looked around her shoulders first, out of paranoia or a sense of something else, before she picked up the paper.

The words written on it were so perplexing the entire world around her faded away. No noise, no movement, nothing. She didn't register the water being turned off or the shadow of someone moving behind her.

For all the paper said, was 'Turn around'.

Brow furrowed in confusion Sakura slowly turned. There kneeling before her, was Kakashi, down on one knee. In his hand, tucked between his thumb and forefinger, was a ring. A glimmering piece of silver with an emerald set into it. Her eyes went wide, darting between the ring he offered her and the look on his face.

Mask down, smiling crookedly in that way he always did when he surprised her, Kakashi took a deep breath before asking the question.

"Sakura, marry me?"

It was hard to get the words out, something so unexpected and wonderful had taken her so off guard.

"Of course."