I think we're coming to an end here, guys! It's crazy that I started to write this story in 2010! WOW. Thanks so much for supporting me in this. I appreciate ALL OF YOU!

This will be an epilogue of sorts that is dedicated to little bits and pieces of Hayate and Sakura's budding and continued relationship. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Written: 9/4/18

The first thing Sakura noticed when she came to was the stiffness in her body, and her appalling lack of chakra. She knew she had to have been asleep for at least a few days, so Sakura knew her chakra must have been so severely depleted for her to have so little still.

The next thing Sakura noticed was the quietness of the room she was in, and the darkness of the room as she opened her eyes. She knew she was still in the hospital, but someone had the decency to not put her on any of the monitors and kept the lights off. It helped her as she blearily opened her eyes and tried to assess how long she had been there.

The last thing Sakura noticed was the warmth and weight in her right hand, and a familiar head of brown hair resting softly on a chair beside her bed.

Sakura shouldn't have been surprised to find Hayate crunched over in the seat next to her. She looked at the brunette fondly before using her unoccupied hand to sweep the brown hair out of his face. He always looked so young when he was asleep; much closer to her age than the six or seven year age gap that they had between the two of them.

Running her hand through his hair again, Sakura heard Hayate sigh softly and shift closer to her. "If this is Genma again I'm going to be severely disappointed."

"Does Genma often comb his fingers through your hair?" Sakura found herself asking, a small smile on her lips. It really wouldn't surprise her if he actually did.

"More times than you can count," Hayate said as he stood up from his slouched position in his chair. He still kept his hand firmly placed in her own, which was something Sakura couldn't help but notice. "He really is a nuisance."

"We'll have to talk to Shizune about him," Sakura agreed, biting her lip slightly. "Maybe we can embarrass him over dinner together… just the four of us."

"Only after I get to take you on a proper date," Hayate said squeezing Sakura's hand in his own. "Just the two of us."

Xxx xxX

News about them spread like wildfire, and Sakura was happy to note that only Genma gave them a hard time about their relationship, and that was only done to "tease the two little love birds", as he so fondly called them.

It wasn't like she had been worried before, but he apparently had been.

"What if they think I'm a pedophile," he confessed to her one night when they were in her apartment. He had made them a home cooked meal and had allowed her to make the tea and light the candles; her culinary skills still lacking. "What if they think this relationship started before you were of legal age?"

"Well that's a stupid worry," Sakura said with a slight shrug of her shoulders. "You obviously didn't like me like that when I was thirteen. I really didn't have anything going for me then."

"You had such determination," Hayate disagreed with her as they made eye contact from across the table. "I had never seen someone so determined to become stronger in my life. And my Kami Sakura, you were brave and selfless. Don't tell me you didn't have anything going for you."

"… You're not really helping your cause here Hayate," Sakura said, a slight blush dusting her cheeks.

"But there's so much more to you now," Hayate said, a blush dusting his own cheeks. "You've gained strength and intelligence over the years, you're able to handle Genma's antics without even blinking, and your selflessness and determination has guided you into becoming the amazing person you are today.

"And," Hayate added as an afterthought, "You've grown so attractive it's not even funny. There were so many times over the past year I had a hard time not staring at you, and a hard time not hurting other men for staring at you."

The blush on her face turned into a full-blown crimson color now. "You did?" Sakura asked, her full face flushed.

"You have no idea how jealous I was of you when I thought you were going on a date with the Kazekage's brother," Hayate admitted, chuckling slightly while shaking his head. "I had no idea why I felt so incredibly jealous. I'm just glad you were brave enough to make the first move; I doubt I would have ever been courageous enough to, and I don't think my jealous streak would have ended well for us."

Sakura's laughter filled the air. "I'm sure it wouldn't have."

Xxx xxX

Their first date in public was a double date with Shizune and Genma, and she had thought it would be like any other normal dinner the four shared. Sakura had taken the time to dress up a little, wearing a lower cut dress that was sure to catch Hayate's attention, but nothing that she would have thought was too scandalous. Apparently, she had been wrong…

"I can't take my eyes off of you," Hayate had whispered into her ear at dinner. He tugged at the bottom of her dark blue dress, and Sakura fought a grin at the attention.

"You like my new dress?" Sakura asked before looking across the table. "Genma helped me pick it out yesterday."

Hayate blinked. "You and Genma went shopping…" Hayate blinked for a second time. "And he helped you pick out this dress?"

"He's actually the one who suggested it," Sakura said with a slight shrug, "And the shoes actually. I had to stop him from trying to pick out my underwear though because that's just going a bit too far."

"But I'm your best friend Sakura-Chaaaaaan," Genma whined from across the table. "Best friends should be able to pick out stuff like that for each other."

Hayate blinked for a third time. "We're sparring tomorrow, Genma."

Both the no-nonsense tone in Hayate's voice as well as the shiver of fear that went down Genma's spine caused Sakura and Shizune to laugh until their stomach's hurt.

Xxx xxX

It had been a month after the invasion when the red head had finally approached Sakura. Sakura had given Tsunade the punishment that she had deemed fit for the red head, but Sakura had also wanted to be given some time to rest and recuperate so she was fully ready for it.

"Ready for training today?" Sakura asked the red head, a glint of something in her emerald eyes.

"… Are you going to throw boulders at me again like you did yesterday?"

"It's to help make you stronger," Sakura had told her with a grin. "And makes me less angry when I see you."

"… Fine…"

Xxx xxX

Her first solo jounin mission had only lasted a little over a week and had almost been too easy. When she had arrived back in Konoha and had turned her mission report in to the Hokage, the blonde was staring at her blankly.

"What?" Sakura asked with a tilt of her head.

"You could have told him how long you'd be gone," Tsunade said with a sigh before shuffling around some paperwork. "Or that you'd be gone period."

"… Oops," Sakura said with a slight shrug. She hadn't intentionally forgot to tell Hayate that she had a mission she had just… been so busy with the hospital… and stuff.

"Don't 'oops' me," Tsunade said with an eyeroll. "That Baka has been in here every day since you've been gone complaining to me that you never told him, asking if you're alright, and trying to sneak secrets about what your mission was."

"I'm sorry Tsunade-shishou," Sakura said with a slight bow, biting her lip so an amused smile wouldn't break through on her face. "I had no idea he'd react that way."

"And now I'm sure he's down at my favorite bar," Tsunade continued, sniffing offensively, "Drunkenly complaining about it to anyone who will listen."

"… I get the idea Tsunade-shishou," Sakura said, the amused smile gracing her face. "I'll make sure Hayate's gone before you're done with work."

"You better brat!" Tsunade called after her as Sakura walked out the door. "And make sure you leave a full bottle of sake there for me!"

Sakura was amused on the three-minute walk it took to get her from the Hokage tower to the little bar Tsunade liked to frequent. On her walk there, she focused on what she was going to say the brunette she knew was waiting for her.

She'd probably have to come clean, Sakura thought with a sigh. The two had decided that there would be no secrets in their relationship after Sakura had went off to become a jounin without him… She'd try to do it as delicately as she could.

Walking into the bar, Sakura was easily able to spot the two brunettes she had become so fond of over the past few years. It didn't take Genma very long to notice her, and when he did, he quickly stood from the table and walked over to her.

"You seriously owe me one," He told her before sighing and walking off. "He's been a drunken hysterical mess this past week."

"Did you tell him that I had told you I was going on the mission," Sakura said with a raise of her eyebrow, "And you had suggested I not tell Hayate?"

"… No…" Genma said before heading out the door. Sakura sighed at the man she called best friend; he was so unhelpful at times.

Walking over to the table Genma had just abandoned, Sakura had to fight a laugh. Hayate was still rambling on, talking to Genma, even though he wasn't there. Shaking her head slightly, Sakura sat in the seat Genma had vacated.

"-and what if wolves try to eat her at night when she's sleeping? Or if she goes to the Land of Snow and doesn't remember to bring a cloak? Or if she tries to swim in a lake but there's these fish that-"

"Hayate?"

"-try to eat her? Or if she's escorting some rich daimyo and he's super handsome and sweeps her off of her feet with all his money and good looks and-"

"Hayate."

"-she leaves me here without a single thought?! What if she-"

"Hayate you know rich daimyos are totally not my type," Sakura said as she looked at the brunette in front of her warmly.

"But Sakura," Hayate continued to prattle on, "What if the Daimyo was funnier than I am? Or better looking? Or if he was able to buy you a nice house with a white picket fence? And he was able to give you so many babies, like all of the babies, and-"

"You're so stupid," Sakura said fondly before she pressed a glowing green hand to Hayate's head. It seemed the only way she would actually get to talk to him was if she sobered him up a bit. She had not seen him in this state ever, and that wasn't just because she wasn't a big drinker, he wasn't either.

It took a few minutes for Sakura to break down most of the alcohol in his system, and she stopped when she noticed Hayate's brown eyes starting to clear.

"Sakura?" He breathed out.

"Hayate," Sakura said with a slight quirk of her lips. "Do you really think a daimyo who would give me 'like all the babies' would make me happy?"

Hayate had the decency to blush. "I was hoping I hadn't really said that out loud," he confessed to her.

"Because he wouldn't," Sakura said as she leaned closer, hands grabbing Hayate's own. "You make me happy. I'm sorry I didn't tell you I was going on a mission, but I didn't think you'd be very happy with me for accepting a solo one…"

Hayate's hands clenched her own before he leaned in closer to her. "You make me happy too, Sakura," Hayate breathed out, his warm breath tickling her lips. "And you make me angry, sad, confused, worried, and warm all at the same time. I want you to be able to feel like you can tell me anything. The fact that you weren't even able to tell me you were going on a mission makes me feel disappointed in both you and myself."

"Haya-"

"And I'm going to make sure that it never happens again," Hayate breathed out, moving so close that his lips were almost touching her own. "I'm going to support you no matter what. You're strong Sakura, and you have more than earned your rank. You're more than capable to go on solo missions and come back on your own."

Sakura's chest felt warm as he said those words, and she responded by pressing her lips against his own. Her lips molded almost perfectly against his own, but even after she had broken down the alcohol in his system his breath still smelled and lips still tasted of sake.

Scrunching her nose, Sakura leaned away from the kiss. "If you want me to keep kissing you," Sakura told him, "I need you to taste like something better than sake."

Hayate had the decency to wince. "Let's go back to my place," he said after a moment. "I can make us some dinner… and I can brush my teeth so I'm able to kiss you as much as I want."

"Okay," Sakura breathed out, already missing the feel of his lips on her own.

Xxx xxX

She was out shopping with Genma again; Hayate was away on a mission. With the amount of time she and Hayate had been spending together, it felt weird to go a day without seeing him. She was nearing on week two and she wasn't sure what she was going to do with all her free time.

"Do you think Shizune would like this one?" Genma asked. Sakura wasn't sure what Genma was showing her now; the brunette had been pulling several different button up shirts for her to pick from, and Sakura could only nod her head absentmindedly.

"She'll like you in anything you wear Genma," Sakura said with a sly smirk. "Or anything you don't wear."

Sakura watched as Genma raised his eyebrow before his own smirk appeared on his face. "Is it the same for you and Hayate?" Genma asked as he wiggled his eyebrows. "Are you happy with him in whatever he does, or doesn't wear?"

Sakura's face blushed a deep red, and it caused the brunette she was with to laugh loudly.

"Have you not been with each other like that?" Genma asked after he was able to finally calm himself down. "You guys have almost been together for four months now!"

"It just hasn't been the right time," Sakura told him, the blush on her face deepening. "It's not from a lack of interest on my part, I can assure you."

"Well it's definitely not a lack of interest on his part either," Hayate said with a slight snort. "I remember the way he looked at you in that dress I picked out a few months ago… Hey. That gives me a great idea."

"I don't know if I like your great ideas Genma…"

Xxx xxX

Hayate was tired as he entered through the village gate. The mission he was just coming back from was one that hadn't been too difficult, though it had been long. He had been away from his home for almost three weeks, and Hayate was more than happy to be home.

It didn't take him long to drop off his mission scroll at the Hokage's office; given how late it was at night, the Hokage wasn't there to take his report, and it made it so much quicker.

He wanted to get home, take a nice long shower, eat whatever food that was in his fridge that hadn't spoiled, and sleep for a few days. Before he did that, however, he needed to check on someone.

Arriving just outside of her apartment, Hayate frowned when he didn't feel her signature inside of it. Sakura hadn't been taking night shifts at the hospital anymore, instead putting Karin and Mai in charge.

He knew she wasn't really one to go out drinking with friends, either, even when Genma tried to pester her to do so. Maybe it had been an emergency at the hospital then?

Either way, it appeared he wasn't going to be seeing her tonight, Hayate thought, his frown worsening. As he trudged up to his own apartment, the plans Hayate had made earlier when he had first entered the village didn't seem quite as wonderful as when he had first thought of them. Maybe he would just go to bed after a quick shower. He could eat something in the morning.

As he stood outside of his apartment door, Hayate froze when he felt a familiar chakra signature inside of it; it hadn't even occurred to him that she might be here.

Walking through the doorway, Hayate froze at the surprisingly delicious smell that was wafting from his kitchen. He quickly took his shoes off, set down his pack, and headed in that direction.

"Sakura?" he questioned as the kitchen came into view. It took him a second longer for him to see her, and when he did, he found himself freezing all over again.

"Welcome home, Hayate," Sakura said a small smile on her face as she wore the apron he had stolen from Suna… and only the apron. "I thought you might be hungry when you got home so I-"

He couldn't prevent himself from pressing his lips to hers in a searing kiss that made his own knees weak. Wrapping his arms around her lithe body, he felt her shiver when they rested against the bare skin of her lower back.

"What are you doing here Sakura?" Hayate questioned as his lips moved from her own down her throat. "And why are you only wearing an apron?"

"I thought you'd be hungry," Sakura shrugged before inhaling deeply after he found a particularly sensitive spot on her neck. "Hungry for more than just food…."

Hayate groaned as he flickered them into the bedroom, the food she had painstakingly not burned left behind forgotten.

Xxx xxX

Hayate appeared slightly sheepish as he offered to reheat the food she had made for them the night before "You can't completely blame me for this one," Hayate said, casting a glance over his shoulder. Satisfaction filled him as he watched her sit on the counter behind him with only his shirt on. "You know how much I like that apron."

Sakura smiled before shaking her head. "You should have seen the outfit Genma had suggested I wear," she said with an eyeroll. "There would have been nothing left to the imagination. Just black silk and lace."

"… Black silk and Lace?" Hayate found himself questioning as he turned away from her. He felt her soft hand on his shoulder before it slowly slid down lower stopping just above his waist.

"I didn't say I didn't buy it," Sakura said with a slight grin as she blew on his ear.

Hayate couldn't help the groan that escaped him.

"Oh you're so fun to tease."

Xxx xxX

"Sakura?" Hayate said as he watched his best friend twirl the love of his life around the dance floor. Watching Genma in a formal kimono and Shizune in bridal kimono had caused weird feelings and thoughts to stir inside of Hayate's body.

"Yes, Hayate?" Sakura questioned back, her eyes never leaving the pair. She looked beautiful in anything, but she looked especially beautiful in this moment. Her hair was up in a fancy bun, little trinkets were hanging delicately from it. The dark blue kimono she wore, with a sky-blue obi fit her perfectly, and accentuated her already lovely figure.

"I love you," he had been trying to find the right time to say the words he had been feeling for a while. It had taken him a lot of courage to say them, and he wasn't sure how Sakura was going to react because-

Sakura turned to look at him, emerald eyes glittering slightly, before she turned back to watch Genma and Shizune. "I love you too."

His chest heated and clenched at the same time, and he moved his hand so he could hold her own.

"Sakura will you-"

"If you ask me to marry you at Genma and Shizune's wedding," Sakura said, eyes looking at him through her peripherals. "They're both going to kill us."

"Why would they kill us?" Hayate breathed out the question confusion coursing through him. Wouldn't the two be happy for them?

"Because I'd have to say yes," Sakura said, casting Hayate another look with her glittering emerald eyes. "And then we'd be taking away all the attention from the two of them when it's their important day."

"Aa," Hayate found himself swallowing. "It's a good thing I was only going to ask you to dance then."

"Mm," Sakura said, a smile forming on her lips. "It is a good thing… Any other day and I'd be forced to say yes."

"To dancing?" Hayate questioned, his eyes flickering to her own. He didn't know why this topic made him so nervous.

"That too," Sakura breathed out as she stood and pulled Hayate along with her. Hayate easily wrapped his arms around her waist while she placed her hands on his shoulders. "That too."

Xxx xxX

It was a few weeks after the wedding when Hayate had finally found the courage to ask her. Sakura was laying in their bed wearing her favorite piece of clothing that she didn't own: his shirt. He watched her fondly from the doorway, noticing the way the sun hit her just perfectly as the drool rolled out of her mouth while she snored.

"Sakura," Hayate called as he walked into the room. He had just finished sparring with Genma and had figured he'd find her practicing her new hobby: cooking.

It had scared him at first, knowing where she had first started with her skills, but the fear had slowly turned to apprehension, which had slowly turned to fondness. Everything she made still didn't turn out quite right, but the taste was there, and the fact that she wanted to try for him felt important.

"Sakura," he tried again, fighting a grin as she turned over in her sleep giving him a delicious view of her long legs. "It's time to wake up."

"Hmm," she moaned sleepily before trying to burrow her head underneath the sheet that she had tried to wrap herself in. Sighing, Hayate pulled the sheet away before kneeling next to the bed.

"Hayate what are yo-"

Hayate found the wide emerald eyes amusing as the emotions in them changed from rage to shock so quickly.

"I love you," he started again with a deep breath. "And I owe you my life several times over. When we first met, I didn't know how important you would ultimately become to me, but now I can't picture my life without yours."

Sakura sat in shocked silence before Hayate grinned again and continued.

"You told me a little while ago that you would say yes to me on any other day than Genma and Shizune's wedding," Hayate said. "Unless they got an annulment and remarried today, I believe you have an answer to the question I'm about to ask. Sakura Haruno, will you marry me?"

"Of course they wouldn't get an annulment you baka," Sakura said as she swatted his shoulder with her hand, slight tears prickling her eyes. "And of course I will marry you!"

Hayate placed the ring on her finger before wrapping his arms around her own. It was hard to believe that a chance meeting, a chance encounter between himself and the pinkette before him would have lead to all of this, but it did, and he wouldn't have had it any other way.