(Present - Ami: 24, Kakashi: 26)
You sighed and slumped down into your chair.
"Ami ... am I too late?"
You shrugged, "I've come to expect it of you, so I'm really not sure."
This raised his hopes a little.
You lifted your head and looked at him, "I love you, there's no doubt about that, but" you paused and put a hand over your heart, "There's still pain there."
Kakashi moved from his seat and appeared behind you giving you a hug. This surprised you but you leaned into him.
"I'm sorry for all the things I did to you, I love you Ami. I've loved you for such a long time and I know I messed it all up but I think I can fix it."
"I don't know," you sighed.
"Just one more time, one more night, one more chance. Let me show you," he offered.
You were quiet for a moment but you slowly nodded, "Okay, one more and that's it. Don't let me down."
He buried his face into your neck, "Thank you."
You pulled away and snapped your head around to look at him, "You better not mess this up! I'm counting on you Hatake."
"You won't regret it!"
You watched as he left the apartment a happier person. You closed your eyes, "I hope not."
(Flashback- Ami 23; Kakashi 25)
After that embarrassing day at Kakashi's apartment you distanced yourself from him for awhile. You felt incredibly stupid so you backed off the sake as well.
You kept yourself busy with work and indulged yourself in going the extra distance for your students. And in a few months you had found a new friend in Iruka.
"Ami-chan would you like to come to dinner tonight"?
"I dunno Iruka, I've got a lot of tests to grade ..."
"Oh come on, I think you need some time away from work. It'll be good for you."
You sighed, "Okay, I'll go."
"Good! It's just going to be a few friends of mine from the Academy so don'y overdress."
A small smile crossed your lips, the first real one in a while, "Okay."
"Meet me here at six and we'll walk together."
You nodded and then waved goodbye, heading home with extra books to consume your time.
You showered and changed and put on a small amount of make up. You hadn't been out in months and you were actually looking forward to it.
As said, you met Iruka at six and the two of you headed towards the restaurant.
"I hope you don't mind being around some guys. I think Kurenai's going to be there so you won't be the only woman."
"It's fine, really."
"So, I know we don't talk much out of work ... but that's why I wanted you to come. You're really nice Ami."
You smiled, "I'm not that nice."
"Sure you are, you just don't realize it. It's one of the things I like about you."
You hesitated in your steps but kept by his side, "So ... what else do you like about me?"
"Um," a light blush filled his cheeks, "well, you're pretty and you're devoted to your students. You're smart and I heard you used to be in ANBU so you're brave and honorable."
Hearing him rant about you was nice but it also made you unexplainably sad.
"We're here."
You followed him in and sat with Kurenai, Kotetsu and Asuma. Asuma seemed surprised to see you there but he didn't say anything, just waved. Soon after you were joined by Izumo and Rei. Everyone ordered food and drinks and talked about random things. Kotetsu recieved his fair share of slaps and thrown objects from all the dirty jokes he told. He could be so perverted.
You blabbering away to Rei who was laughing over some stupid remark when she suddenly stopped.
"What is it?"
"Sorry I'm late, what'd I miss?"
You looked behind you to see Kakashi, his visible eye widened when he saw you. All of your emotions came sweeping over you.
"Are you okay?" Rei asked.
"I don't know."
Kakashi sat near Iruka, across from you. You tuned out the conversation, waiting for a good time to leave. But a question caught your attention.
"So, how's Harumi?"
Your angry eyes shots over at Iruka who regretted asking the question almost immediately.
"Um did I say something wrong?"
You clenched your jaw, your grip on your glass tightening until it broke in your hand. You cursed as you let go of what was left of it.
"Ami, are you all right?" Kakashi reached across the table to you.
"Don't touch me!" you turned your attention to Iruka, "How could you? How could you do that? You knew ... you did this on purpose."
"What are you talking about?" he was utterly confused.
You threw money on the table, doing your best to ignore the stares from the rest of the group and other customers and then hurried out.
"Ami, wait!" Iruka stood and chased after you, "Ami!"
You had put some distance between you and the restuarant but not Iruka. He grabbed onto your arm and stopped you.
"Please Ami, what's going on?"
"How could you invite him? Why didn't you tell me?"
"What?"
"Kakashi! Why didn't you tell me you invited him?"
"I didn't know you knew him that well."
"We've been together since we were kids. He's the love of my life, we were supposed to get married!" tears spilled from your eyes, "I was pregnant with his child ... I was stubborn and didn't listen to him and we lost the baby."
"Ami ..." he reached out to you.
You were trembling now, "He cheated on me with Harumi, he left me like I meant nothing to him. I've tried ... I've tried so hard."
"I'm sorry, I didn't know," he pulled you into a hug.
You struggled against him, "I don't need your pity."
"It's not pity."
"Why doesn't he want me? Why doesn't he love me anymore?"
You stood there in the middle of the street with Iruka holding you as you cried uncrontrollably. Luckily there weren't too many people out to witness your meltdown. But the one person you didn't want to see you like that was watching on not too far away.
Kakashi kicked the side of a building and sighed heavily, 'You're such an ass Hatake.'
You missed a couple days of work after that, you had to take some time to pull yourself together. Surprisingly, things between you and Iruka weren't strange after that. You actually saw each other in a different light.
Also, Kakashi came around more. it was always to see Iruka but you ocassionally ran into him. Things were awkward but slowly the two of you started to talk more. He was always cranky when he fought with Harumi and even more so on the day they broke up. You had to admit, you were happy that they split. If that made you a bad person, then so be it.
The rest of the year passed that way. You filled your spare time with books, made small talk with Kakashi and worked as hard as ever.
(Present- Ami 24; Kakashi 26)
So much has changed since then and now Kakashi was asking for another chance. You secretly had wanted this for so long but now you didn't know how to react. You were still hurt, but happy, anxious ... a bit of a wreck. You had no idea what he was going to do. You spent a couple hours cleaning and getting yourself together, you wanted to be ready for anything.
A knock on the door startled you but you took a deep breath and opened it.
"Hi, Kakashi."
He looked gorgeous, he skipped his usual attire and was dressed in black pants with a white button up shirt and a black jacket left unbuttoned and open. The contrast of all the black and white on him was breath taking.
"Ami, you look ..."
"Under dressed?"
You were in a simple light blue dress with skinny straps that fell just above your knees.
He smiled, "No, it's perfect. Come on, lets go."
You grabbed onto his offered hand and stepped outside, "So where are we going?"
"It's a surprise."
You walked with him hand in hand through the village. The late afternoon air was warm, the sky was clear and blue, it all seemed perfect. He squeezed your hand as you came to your old spot.
Memories of laying together under the sun, afternoon picnics, watching sunsets and star gazing came to surface.
"We're not there yet, lets keep going."
You nodded, letting him lead you off the path. The sound of water soon reached your ears and you stopped walking.
"Come on."
"Kakashi, I can't."
"What?"
You pulled your hand away, "I can't go there."
"You have to."
"But ..."
He yanked you to him and pulled down his mask in a quick motion. He pressed his lips to yours with such force you felt like he could have bruised them. You tried pushing him away but he held strong, not letting you out of his arms. You stopped struggling and gave in, allowing his tongue to enter and explore your mouth. You closed your eyes as they began to well up with tears, your lips trembled against his.
Kakashi pulled away, "Ami, I'm sorry."
"It's not that ..."
"Please just come with me. You said you'd give me another chance so let me have it."
"Okay."
You kept your eyes downward as he continued to walk, taking you to the place where the two of you confessed many feelings and lost your virginity to each other.
When you looked up your heart skipped a beat, it was a complete recreation of that day right down to the blanket..
The two of you sat down and he pulled out a bottle of sake, "For old time's sake."
You took the cup offered to you and smiled softly, "Kampai."
"You know I haven't drank in a long time."
"Well I'm glad it's with me.'
You sighed and looked arond, "I can't believe you still remember all of this, the same blanket and brand of sake ..."
"I remember every detail of that day."
"Really?"
He nodded, "The way your wet hair fell across your face, the way you blushed, the look in your eyes when you told me you were ready," he leaned cloer to you and rubbed his hands down your arms, "I remember the way you felt, every inch of your body was wet, cold, and hot at the same time."
You closed your eyes, you remembered it all too.
"The way you called out my name and how your body trembled when you climaxed, falling asleep close together yet I felt like you weren't close enough. I remember how nervous I was to make love to you but how happy it made me that you trusted yourself to me. I knew that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you."
You rested your head against him and he wrapped his arms around you, "Oh god, I'm so sorry. I was so angry at that time, after we lost the baby, I know it wasn't your fault. I was so mad because I wasn't able to protect you, I was so disappointed in myself. I can't explain my actions but I regret them every day."
You felt a droplet of warm liquid hit your shoulder, followed by another and another.
"Ami, my sweet Ami, I'm begging you for forgiveness. I know you have mixed feelings about all of this and it's my fault for that but I'm different. This past year has changed me and made me realize a lot of things about myself and what I want ... and need."
His hold on you loosened and you turned to face him. He was unmasked and his hitai-ate discarded. He cheeks were stained with tears.
Your eyes softened, "Kakashi."
"I'm sorry, I can never tell you enough," he bowed down putting his head in your lap, taking you by surprise, "If you take me backa things will be better, I'll be better. I never stopped loving you even if things I did or said told you otherwise. Please Ami, I need you because you I love you."
You put your hand on his shoulder, "Kakashi, look at me."
He raised back up drying hs eyes. Your heart swelled with emotion and you cupped his face in your hands. Your eyes met his, "I love you so much."
"I love you too."
"Do you believe we can make it?"
"Yes."
You leaned in and kissed him softly, "That's all I need to hear."
He hugged you tightly, "Thank you."
After a few moments he pulled away and kissed you, you ran your hands through his silvery locks that you missed so much. Again your tongues met, this time more passionately. With every breath you took, you felt more of your hurt disappear and be replaced with love and desire.
This was right, you here with him felt right. Kissing and holding him felt so right. This was the right decision, you were sure.
He broke the kiss, "We need to stop."
"Why?"
"You don't understand how badly I want you right now, but I want to do this the right way. I don't want to push you."
You kissed him, "Don't stop, please Kakashi, I want you to make love to me again."
"But Ami ..."
You shook your head, "Don't say anything, let your body do the talking."
His eyes widened, "If you're sure."
"I've never not wanted this moment. I'm sure with every inch of me, just take me close to you again."
He smiled softly and then kissed you and then you made more memories. You both slowly undressed the other. His touches were so sensual in themselves that they burned your skin and left goosebumps in their trail. His kisses were sweet and genuine. Under the stars, he took you and made you his again ... and again.
When you awoke in the morning you felt sore, especially in the legs. You looked around at the trees, the sound of the water was so soothing. A smile crossed your face as you looked down at Kakashi. It was all true, he was back with you annd your life felt like it was in place.
"Lay back down," he said, eyes still closed.
You curled back up beside him and he placed his arm over you.
"Kakashi?"
"Hmm?"
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For coming through, not letting me down."
He kissed the back of your neck, "I told you I wouldn't."
Things only got better from that point on. He proved himself to you again and again. You grew even closer to his team, taking on an adoration for Naruto. Even Iruka pointed out how happy you seemed. But then again, you were living like you had always wanted.
The following year close friends gathered for a ceremony that joined you and Kakashi together. It was the happiest day of your life, until two years later when you gave birth to your first child, a girl with your eyes like Kakashi had always wanted. She was named Kirika Hatake.
"She's so beautiful," Kakashi spoke quietly as to not wake the newborn.
"Yeah, we do good work, don't we?" you smiled.
"I'm so proud of you," he kissed you.
"I love you so much."
"I love you too, forever, I promise."
Little Kirika stirred in her sleep and began to whine. Kakashi smiled and kissed her forehead, "And I love you too."
