MINAKO'S POINT OF VIEW

I woke to feeling a warm hand combing softly through my scarlet locks. I was resting peacefully, not opening my eyes in hope the hand would not stop stroking the silky strands. To my dismay, the hand moved away from my hair, cradling my chin instead.

"I know you're awake Mina." I peaked open only one of my eyes and gave my lover a shy half smile. I was laying on him as he rested in the hospital bed, yet another morning we had spent here. He sent me a smile back, I could tell despite the mask on his face. Spending over a decade by his side made me memorize his expressions.

"You need to go home and sleep in a bed. You've been staying here for three days. You don't want bags under your eyes when you walk down the aisle do you?" Kakashi joked. I immediately sat up and started poking under my eyes.

"B-b-bags?! I have bags!?" Kakashi laughed at my anxiety before tracing his fingers across my cheek.

"No, you're still the beautiful woman I love." Kakashi smiled. I felt my cheeks heat up before grinning. Our moment was interrupted when a nurse walked in with a lipstick caked smile and a bowl of chicken noodle soup. The normally appetizing smell caused my stomach to churn, an uneasy feeling breaking across my insides. The woman batted her eyelashes at Kakashi before bending over him to place the soup on a tray connected to his hospital bed.

"Your lunch Mr. Hatake... Do you need anything to make you more comfortable?" She flirted. Kakashi and I looked at each other with raised eyebrows.

"Um no thanks?" He said uncomfortably. The clown nurse left the room in defeat. Kakashi sat up with a groan from the wound in his abdomen and began to eat the hot soup. When he brought it closer, the smell became stronger, making me have to cover my nose and mouth. I ran out of the room and into the conjoined bathroom, emptying the contents of my stomach.

"Mina?! Are you okay...?" Kakashi called out. I stood up and felt my forehead. No fever... No chills... No sweat... I wasn't sick... Was I? I reached in the compartment below the sink countertop and rinsed my mouth out with a mint wash, wiping my face in the meantime.

"I think it's just a stomach bug. I'm always around so many damn kids, I might have just picked it up." I replied. Kakashi chuckled.

"Okay well you're in a hospital so I'm sure they can help you out with that." Kakashi spoke loudly from the other room. I went back into Kakashi's room, feeling the nausea instantly disappear since he ate all of his food.

"That was weird." I groaned. Kakashi nodded before analyzing me with an odd look on his face. I felt my stomach grumble and immediately I craved tomatoes.

"Erg... I really want some tomatoes." I groaned aloud to Kakashi. He looked at me surprised.

"That's strange...you hate tomatoes." Kakashi looked confused and suspicious. Of what I'm not sure. I glanced over at the clock to see it was eleven thirty. I immediately stood up.

"Ah! I forgot that I had to drop off Naruto's lunch at the Academy! I love you, I'll be back soon!" I called out as I gave my fiancé a kiss on the forehead and left.

~~

I huffed as I walked to Naruto's picnic table outside. He and Sasuke were the only ones at the table, in a heated argument about something. Sasuke was munching absent-mindedly on a tomato, causing me to drool slightly.

"Mommy!" Naruto called out when he saw me. I smiled and waved at him before giving him the lunch bag I made.

"Hi baby! Here you go!" He took it excitedly before munching on an apple I put in there. I looked at Sasuke, our eyes locking and narrowing. I walked towards him and raised an eyebrow.

"You got another one kid? I'll pay you." I asked with a monotonous tone. Sasuke kept munching before pulling out another tomato and handing it to me. I took it in my hands before my attitude changed completely, a grin stretching across my face. I pulled a few coins out of my pocket that was well over the value of the tomato and handed it to the boy as if it were a back alley deal.

"Thank you sweetheart." I bit into it, feeling the unusually sweet juices explode in my mouth. Why does this suddenly taste better than before? Ughhh.. Something is wrong with me.

~~

It was over a week and a half after Kakashi was put in the hospital and I was incredibly relieved for a big reason... Kakashi recovered and was released the day before our wedding. The doctors were surprised by his tenacity to get out of the hospital and were impressed by how fast his recovering was. His eye and torso were still a bit sore but all stitches were removed and healing over. The nurses told me that Kakashi and I have to be careful during our honeymoon because if things get... well... wild... then he can reopen his wounds. Right now however, I couldn't see him. He was having his bachelor's party and I, my bachelorette's. Mikoto and Tsume wanted to take me out and about all night but I have no idea where we are going. We had a couple genin watching our younger kids but knowing Naruto, he'll probably give them hell since he's such a Momma's boy. Tsume put a blindfold on me and picked me up, taking me God knows where. I was giggling though, excited yet nervous as to where I was going. Kushina would have great ideas as to what to do.

She would be such an excited mess right now... How I miss you sis.

We arrived somewhere with this sweet, light aroma. Almost like orange blossoms and cherry petals. A wave of humidity hit my face and I immediately knew where we were. Tsume took off my bandana and I squealed.

"Hot Springs! Greatest idea ever ya know!" We all were chatting and relaxing in the hot water, a few masseuses coming in to massage our shoulders and backs. I was in heaven. One of them heated smooth stones and rubbed them into my skin, warming me.

"I could get used to this... " Mikoto sighed. Tsume nodded her head, her usually unruly hair was for once being tamed by a spa worker.

"You said it."

Who knew the day before my wedding could be so relaxing?

~~

KAKASHI'S POINT OF VIEW

"ANOTHER ONE FOR THE GROOM!" Jiraiya grinned as he drunkenly grabbed a shot glass meant for me. He handed me the glass but I shyly refused.

"I don't want a hangover at my wedding tomorrow...and besides I just got out of the hospital." Jiraiya rolled his eyes and Tenzo draped his arm around my neck.

"C'mon Kakashi. You only get one bachelor's party! Live it up a little!" I rolled my eyes and looked at the liquid in the glass. I didn't really feel like drinking.

"That's right Kakashi! If you're going to do it, do it right!" Gai cheered as he held a whole bottle of sake in his hands. I rolled my eyes before giving in.

"Fine, I'll have this one but only this one."

Well...one turned into seven.

The guys and I somehow ended up singing karaoke and it was an absolute mess. Tenzo, Gai, Jiraiya and I were all drunk out of our minds, stumbling around the bar. One drink turned to two, that two turned to three, and well...anyone could see where this is going. Gai was crying into his drink, mumbling something about his 'youthful flower'.

"My Lotus is marrying my best friend! My youthful Mina! How can I continue!" He cried while holding his drink. A second later, he passed out on the counter. Tenzo kept making little wooden dolls and throwing them at people, laughing hysterically when they hit them. Jiraiya turned to me, placing his hand on my shoulder. We both had flushed faces from the alcohol, slightly dizzy.

"Y-you're gonna have a greaat life Kaakaaashi. You-you got a beautiful lady, a cool job... Your future is set! Never... Never let Mina gooo.. She's... She's a good kid...and she's strong...Don't be an idiot and you'll be good!" Jiraiya slurred before falling asleep on my shoulder. I thought of my future wife and how beautiful she really was... I loved her...I will love her always.

I can't wait to marry her.

~~

THIRD PERSON POINT OF VIEW

"GOD DAMN IT! I DONT CARE IF WE GOTTA SQUEEZE THE LIFE OUTTA ME! THIS DAMN DRESS WILL FIT ME YA KNOW!" Minako exclaimed as she tried for the fifth time to get into her wedding dress. It was perfect everywhere, except for her stomach. Mikoto pulled the ribbon that tied the back as much as she could but it was no use. The dress was too tight over her stomach. Tsume looked everything over before going under the gown with a kunai.

"Give me a sec." Tsume cut through the extra tight layer that was making it hard for Mina to fit in it. Luckily for her, it didn't change the way the dress looked on the outside. Mikoto was able to tie the dress shut before attaching the veil to her already pinned up scarlet curls. Minako's long ruby hair was in curls that were half up, appearing like a waterfall at sunset. Her curvy figure was adorned with an off the shoulder wedding gown that would be fit for a princess. Her vibrant violet eyes were accented with long eyelashes and onyx eyeshadow that didn't overbear her features. She looked beautiful...like Kushina. Mikoto started sniffling before hugging Mina, Tsume doing the same.

"Your sister would be so proud of you... You look absolutely beautiful Mina." Mina forced the tears back, refusing to mess up her makeup.

"Thank you. Now where is my son, I need to make sure he didn't come in sweatpants like he originally wanted to ya know." Tsume giggled before walking into another room, bringing Naruto, Sasuke, and Kiba along with her.

"The boys all wanted to see the bride." Tsume chuckled. The young boys all filed into the room to see the dressed up women, all eyes on Minako. Naruto stared up at her in awe, his big blue eyes widening.

"Mommy...you look... Beautiful ya know?" Minako looked down at the dressed up little Naruto with pride and love in her eyes.

"Thank you baby. You look very handsome ya know! Now you gotta get going, I need to walk down the aisle soon!"

After all the boys and the bridesmaids left to take their places, Jiraiya walked into the back room to see Mina taking deep breaths. Jiraiya was going to walk her down the aisle considering she didn't have a father. He smiled at his student before holding his hand out to her to take.

"Are you ready?" Jiraiya asked her. She nodded after taking another breath. The music started playing, giving the cue that it was time for her to walk down the aisle. All of the earlier nerves and anxiety rushed back to her, the only thing keeping her tied to earth was the thought of Kakashi at the end of the aisle. Mina hooked her arm through Jiraiya's and began slowly walking until she got to the beginning of the aisle.

"This is the moment you've always dreamed of, the start of the greatest happiness of your life." Jiraiya whispered to her. Mina grinned in reply before beginning the walk to a new world. The world of being husband and wife. Everyone stood to watch as Mina made her way down the aisle. Itachi clenched his chest, her beauty making his heart hurt. Shisui smiled at his sensei, happy for her. Naruto and his friends stopped playing so that way they could watch his mother. Out of all of the reactions though, none would ever beat the expression in Kakashi's eyes when he realized this was the woman he was going to be with forever. Kakashi was in complete jaw dropping awe of his bride, locking eyes with her and feeling his lips curl into a subconscious smile. Mina made her way to the archway where the Hokage stood to deliver the vows. Normally to be at weddings was not his custom, but he was incredibly fond of the two shinobi in front of him...and it felt like his responsibility since Minato and Kushina were not here for her.

"We are gathered here today to celebrate the union between Kakashi Hatake and Minako Uzumaki." He started. Kakashi and Minako were lost in each other's eyes, receiving an unspoken conversation that no one else could read. The Hokage read the vows and pledges, the bride and groom responding when needing to.

"Do you Kakashi Hatake take Minako Uzumaki to love and to hold, in sickness and in health, forever and always?" Kakashi grinned under his mask, holding Mina's hands in his.

"I do."

"Do you Minako Uzumaki take Kakashi Hatake to love and to hold, in sickness and in health, forever and always?"

"I do." She spoke with power in her voice, never more convinced of a choice in her life.

"I pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride." The crowd erupted in cheers as the newly weds shared their first married kiss, smiles on both of their faces.

"I love you." Kakashi spoke to her.

"I love you Kakashi." She replied.

The start of their forever was just beginning.