Epilogue (drat 2)

September four started gloomily, the clouds rolled in heavier and darker by the minute and by ten o'clock, rain seemed likely. A small crowd started to gather in front of White Rose, an exquisite and private hotel on the outskirts of Konoha. There was a lively chatter among those present as they began to strike up conversations with familiar faces. The weather could have been better but no one felt depressed by it anyway, especially the groom who stood proud in his tux watching the people come in. Naruto looked handsome and manly as he greeted their guests, trying to make his gnawing anticipation for his bride not too obvious. The wedding was still in twenty minutes; enough time for everyone to get settled, last minute adjustments made and the bride almost want to rip her hair out.

Tsunade sat shaking her hands from time to time as she felt every minute pass agonizingly slow. She then stood and started to pace the room when the door opened and Shizune poked her head in.

'Tsunade-sama the ceremony will begin in ten minutes.' the younger woman said softly as she stepped in and closed the door behind her. Tsunade tried to smile in response but found she couldn't. She was too nervous she felt the room spin and her stomach protest. Shizune chided her to sit and gave her a glass of water.

'Please try to relax Hokage-sama.' As the maid of honor she was too formal but with the ceremony being held discreetly, she was all Tsunade could ask. It felt awkward for Shizune to try being a friend to her mentor now after so many years of only being her apprentice. She was happy for Tsunade and was still shocked that she was getting married. It came as a surprise to all invited, even more so for the couple. Nobody knew that Naruto and Tsunade were even dating before the announcement and no matter the previous shock and disapprovals, all fifty attendees were happy for both of them. After so much tragedy in their lives, they deserved to be happy with each other.

'Oh God Shizune! I feel nauseous!' ten minutes seemed too long. She hadn't completely gotten over assuming the worst in everyone and everything and she was scared something might go wrong at the last minute.

'You're going to be fine Tsunade-sama. You look beautiful.' Which she did in a long simple but elegant white gown which touched the floor. It showed off her extraordinary figure. Her hair was pulled back and mounted in a neat roll highlighting her beautiful face and thin neck. But despite the goddess-like exterior she felt like a dwarf who was about to dig a deep tunnel and hide in it forever. All of a sudden everything seemed scary and uncertain, she wanted nothing more than to run. How she finally convinced herself to do this was completely forgotten and all there was now was her hysterics.

'Baby you really don't have to do this,' Naruto said calmly one night when Tsunade came into the room where he'd been sitting after a mission and announced that she wanted to marry him. He was on cloud nine to hear it but was immediately grounded to realize that she might be forcing herself to do it for his sake.

'No, I want to do this. It's important to you,' he wasn't pushy about it when he brought marriage into their conversations but Tsunade felt she was begrudging him his right. 'Besides we've been practically living like husband and wife. We've certainly been acting like it,' she smiled mischievously then. 'Why not make it official?'

Naruto approached her and put an arm around her. 'You really don't have to do this if you feel uncomfortable about it. I'm happy married or otherwise.' He looked at her and bent down to kiss her.

'I want to do it Naruto. It's important to you and I feel that marriage is just the thing to convince me that you will always be mine and I, yours,' she said gently.

'You already know that even without having to go through with it. I love you and I always will' he wanted to marry her but not if it meant she was being forced into it.

'Are you saying you don't want to marry me?' she eyed him and tried to look offended and then smiled.

'I would like nothing more than to marry you my love.' He kissed her again. 'But I don't want to force you'

'You're not forcing me, I want this, for me, for you, for the both of us' she reassured him. 'But don't wait too long to make up your mind.' She beamed at him.

'Well then, we'd better get to it.' He said with a smile and swept her off her feet and carried her to their bedroom.

They decided to have a small wedding filled with only their closest friends knowing only too well that not too many would be so understanding of their relationship. They went to invite their guests personally. Naruto had listed most of the names while Tsunade only had a few to name as most of the people close to her had died. All arrangements were done after three weeks and September four was the soonest they could get.

'Five more minutes Tsunade-sama.'

'Jesus! This is taking forever!' she could not afford more time to herself thinking of the uncertainty of what lay ahead for them. She was scared that marriage might screw things up and it could change them. It was all that crossed her mind while she waited to be married to the man she loves so much. But she was sure that if she kept at this, she just might turn on her heel and race the hell out of the building.

'Calm down Tsunade-sama or I might tranquilize you' Shizune teased to try and calm the bride.

'That could be just the thing' she smiled despite herself.

'You're doing great Tsunade-sama. Hang in there a while longer.' She said kindly.

Five minutes later, Shikamaru knocked to tell them the ceremony will be beginning. Tsunade looked up at Shizune with a terrified expression. She looked like a kid who was about to go to the dentist.

'It's okay Tsunade-sama, everything is going to be alright' Shizune felt like the older woman now. Tsunade nodded and followed her out of her room and then outside into the tented garden where a handful of people waited for her. There were no bride's maids or groom's men or flower girl, it was just her and Shizune walking down the aisle this time. They didn't need this moment to be fabulous, it just had to be an intimate one they shared with the people dear to them.

Tsunade didn't breathe as they walked arm in arm toward the entrance. She was a nervous wreck and all the courage she had had quickly drained out of her. Everybody looked up at her as she made her entrance. She suddenly felt claustrophobic seeing all of them there, she wanted to run away but she looked again and saw Naruto standing there. She found all the courage she needed. Somehow his loving stare and his warm smile was enough to reassure her. Her jelly legs solidified and she walked to her awaiting husband to be. Shizune gave her away and took her place.

'You look beautiful' Naruto bent to whisper to her as they turned to face the minister.

The ceremony went smoothly and as they made their vows, the last of Tsunade's fears were thrown out the window. She knew that whatever came their way, they would somehow manage to jump over every hurdle as long as they did it together. Naruto offered her the love, the comfort and security she needed. They have truly been made one as they shared a long passionate kiss by the end of the ceremony before everyone went to the reception inside the hotel.

By the time they had to leave for their wedding night both felt completely exhausted. Everyone congratulated the newlyweds before they left and headed for their suite. There wasn't much going anywhere because both decided to do everything in private and there wouldn't be much of that if the hokage and the village hero were seen running all over the village. They didn't want to make too much noise. The happy couple made their way to their suite and were moments later intertwined in each other's arm catching their breaths. They slept that night feeling the warmth of the other's body next to their own and both knew that nothing mattered any more than the love they had for each other.

Tsunade sat staring at the gold ring on her finger and smiled to herself remembering their wedding. It was the happiest day of her life, she could not believe that it had been a whole 3 years since they got married and they couldn't be happier. Their love for each had only grown since then. It's their anniversary and she was lost in thought thinking of what to get for his husband.

'Mama' she heard her daughter come in. She turned to see her holding her teddy bear and beaming at her. At two-years little Kushina was an adorable little girl with her mother's dusty blonde hair and her father's blue eyes. She was the greatest joy of their lives and it was a miracle they even had her. At her age, it would have been impossible for Tsunade to be pregnant. Neither of them could believe it when she announced it.

Naruto was worried sick for his wife when he saw that she seemed very fatigued and had been constantly vomiting for almost a month.

'Are you okay baby?' he said worried and almost panicked when he found her in their bathroom vomiting for the third time that day. They had been married for three months by then.

'I'm fine' she said looking absolutely the opposite. 'I think I have the flu' but being a medical specialist she thought of another possibility. Naruto helped her to their bed and then gave her a glass of water.

'Why don't you just take the day off and rest here.' He had a mission that day and watching how miserable his wife was, he felt awful to leave her by herself.

'I'm fine Naruto.' She said looking up at him reassuringly 'You better get going or Sakura will surely beat you to a pulp. You're already running late sweetheart.' She said with a smile.

'I hate to leave you like this,' he sat beside her brushing off a loose strand of hair from her face.

'Don't make me chase you out of here.' She tried to look like she meant it but she felt too weak.

'I'd like to see you try,' he said challenging her as he raised a brow and smiled at her.

'Really I'm fine baby. I'm sure I'll feel better after good day's rest. Now go' she was sleepy as she said it.

'Okay okay. Get better soon baby. I'll be back as soon as I can,' he bent to kiss her and was out the door in matter of seconds.

Tsunade lay on their bed feeling like she was caught in a whirlpool. She said she might have the flu but what caused her to doubt was so far from the imaginable, it couldn't possibly happen. She was still for a few minutes and then decided to check anyway. She wrapped her hand with her medical chakra and placed it over her belly, running it up and down. And then she felt it, there was something growing in her belly. She was in shock and held her breath for the longest time before tears came free flowing down her cheeks. She was pregnant!

A week later, Naruto came flying in through the door.

'Tsunade Tsunade!' he shouted.

'In here'

He was worried sick for Tsunade and everyday he spent away from her was torturous. He came in with a bouquet of red roses and searched frantically for his wife. She found her in the kitchen cooking dinner. She looked a lot better now. Naruto wrapped his hand around her waist and nuzzled her neck.

'I've missed you. How are you babe?' Tsunade then turned to face him.

'I missed you too' she stood on her toes to give him a kiss. He was a whole head taller than her. He lifted her and spun her around while locked in their kiss. When he finally put her down and tucked a loose strand of hair, he looked at her intently as if to confirm that she really was okay. He saw something in her eyes but couldn't figure out what it was or what it meant.

'Are you really okay?' he said with a worried look.

'I really am sweetheart.' She smiled up at him, planted another kiss on his lips and then went back to what she was cooking. Naruto took a seat but still worried about her as he watched her move around.

Twenty minutes later, she served them both a lovely dinner. Tsunade asked how his mission was and Naruto excitedly narrated the past week's events. After dinner, Naruto started a fire and they both sat on the couch cuddling, watching the flames. Slowly Naruto kissed her and then slid his hands under Tsunde's shirt. He made love to her with all the longing he had felt while he was away. Tsunade lay on his chest while they slowly descended from their high. To the each, the other was an intoxicating drug they could not help themselves to.

'I really missed you Tsunade,' he kissed the top of her head.

'So did I,' They shared a comfortable silence for a while and then Naruto remembered how sick she'd been.

'So what did you have? You looked like you were dying.'

'It sure as hell wasn't the flu.' She said with uncertainty in her voice. By then, she turned over laying on her belly and supported herself on her elbows as she looked Naruto dead in the eye. He saw how she became serious and felt his heart beat violently. Could it have been something worse.

'So what was it?' he asked cautiously. And then Tsunade laughed seeing how terrified Naruto was.

'I'm not dying relax but there is something else,' Naruto visibly relaxed and waited for her to continue. But she took her time.

'What is it Tsunade? You might not be dying but you're gonna kill me with a heart attack if you keep me in suspense like this.'

Tsunade smiled at him and then took a deep breath. 'Naruto, I'm pregnant' She wasn't excited nor was she sad as she said it, she didn't know how to feel about it yet. She waited for how Naruto would react because a baby hadn't even crossed their minds since their marriage. They were more than happy just having each other.

Naruto's eyes sparkled in the dim light of the fire. 'Ow for chrissake! I thought you had cancer or you were leaving me!' and then he cupped her face and looked at her lovingly. 'That's wonderful news!' he beamed. 'We're pregnant! We're gonna be a family!' Seeing her husband's reaction cemented her joy as well. She was happy to have his baby. They made love again until they exhausted themselves out.

'I love you so much Tsunade,' he said sleepily.

'I love you too,' she said and brought her body closer to his.

Naruto didn't even bother to ask how it was possible, he was simply delighted and seeing her daughter now, Tsunade could not have cared less.

That evening, Naruto came looking completely spent. Tsunade came out of their room after getting dressed for their dinner and felt sympathetic for him. She went to join him in their kitchen where he was drinking water.

'How was your day honey?' she said softly as she kissed him.

'Oh my god! I can't believe I ever dreamed of becoming the Hokage! I'm swamped!' He had become the Hokage after a year since their wedding. Tsunade had retired since she was already heavy with the baby and they figured it was about time. The village couldn't agree more that he be made the Hokage. Tsunade smiled at him, remembering her own days as the Hokage.

'You're constant barging into my office didn't make it easier for me.' She said in good humor.

'Now I'm sorry,' he grabbed her by the waist and hugged her 'but you were just so damn beautiful I couldn't keep away. Ow and baby you look gorgeous in that dress but I'd prefer you out of it. Happy anniversary.' He kissed her and as a knock came to the door he went to change while she opened the door. Sakura was coming over to baby sit while they went out for dinner.

'Good-evening Tsunade-sama. You're gorgeous!' she almost screamed in pure fascination of the elegant black dress Tsunade had worn. She looked exquisite with her hair cascading down to her shoulders.

'Thank you Sakura. Come in. Kushina is in the living room playing.' She led her to the living room and then left to check on Naruto. He was finished changing and looked handsome in a dark suit.

'Shall we?' Naruto said with a boyish grin.

'We shall' Naruto was all over her then. 'We have the whole night ahead of us baby. No need to rush' she pried herself from his hands. Naruto squeezed her behind as she turned on her heel and went to the living room to talk to Sakura.

'You're hopeless!' she teased him, 'but I love you' and then walked back to the living room. Naruto followed her moments later.

'How's Sasuke?' Naruto asked Sakura. They had just married last year and Sakura agreed to baby sit tonight because Sasuke was away on a mission. They were all good friends.

'Terrific!' she said beaming.

Both kissed Kushina goodbye and headed out a few minutes later. They were going to have dinner at the White Rose. It had become their favourite place since the wedding. They had also reserved a suite there for the night.

The dinner was delicious. After finishing, Naruto handed her a small box. 'Happy Anniversary Tsunade' He had given her a pretty gold necklace with a heart shaped locket which was generous with embed diamonds. She thanked him and handed him his present. She decided to give him an lovely orange coat with 'Sixth Hokage' printed on it. They both loved their presents. They then walked out into the garden and strolled there for a while reminiscing the fateful night when they were made one.

'Naruto, I have another present for you.' She said feeling giddy.

'Ow you do you?' he raised an eyebrow and grinned with mischief.

'Mhm,' she nodded then threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. 'I'm pregnant again.'

'You are? That's great! I'm so proud of you. How far along?'

'Two months' she said proudly.

'I hope it's a boy this time.' He swept her off her feet and carried her up to their sweet where they made love.

'That was unfair, I had three presents and I only gave you one.' Naruto pouted as Tsunade laughed at him. He can be so mature some times and childish at some but she loved that about him.

'The baby is a present for both of us honey. As for the third. . . .' she paused and then grinned suggestively at him. 'This one is just perfect' her hands wondered down south to the part which lifted her to the highest gates of pleasure. Naruto smiled at her then rolled her over on her back and hovered over her.

'That, my love, is a gift I am more than willing to give you again and again and again.' He kissed her and they made love until dawn.

'Naruto you are insatiable! You're going to have me on crutches when we get out of here.' She giggled and then kissed him. He laughed too.

'I think it's the other way around baby.' He drew her closer to him and started to doze off when Tsunade started to poke his shoulder. 'What. . . .huh?' he said sleepily

'I just wanted to say I love you Hokage-sama'

'And I love you just as much Tsunade Senju Uzumaki.'

Moments later they were fast asleep, safe in each other's arms completely satisfied with the life they had ahead of them. They had each other, a wonderful little girl and another loveable munchkin on the way. There was nothing more to ask for. All their dreams had been fulfilled the day they had found each other.

The End!

So that's the last of the story. I hope you liked it. Thank you so so so much for reading. 'till the next story guys. . . . Ciao!